What's everybody doing today?

[dademoss]

Topped off the feeders and water bowls in preparation for the upcoming winter storm. Stores are chaos, everybody doing their "french toast" runs. (Milk, Bread, Eggs)

 

[Heartbroken]

Went to church then out to lunch with friends. Really thankful for such good people making me feel less alone.
Made a quick stop at the store and then home to deal with work emails.
Daughter called and said she's been offered a job she really wants and will start there Jan 3rd. That's the best news I've had all year!
The way the weather guessers are yelling, I should probably go out to the shop and dig out the snowblower and see if I can get it started. Just don't feel like it. I could always just wait and see, I guess.

 

[TeeJ]

Pleasant surprise at the dentists - tooth was just an old filling gone bad with a little damage around it. They couldn't fix it this morning, but squeezed me in this afternoon and $150 later my face in numb, but the tooth feels good as new. New dentist to me and I'm really pleased with their professionalism and fixing it at the lowest level possible. 100% sure our old dentist would have made this a root canal & crown at the tune of $2K plus. Made rice krispy treats, and starting on a batch of sugar cookies

 

[Spikedriver]

The weather service has lowered the expected snow amount to 4 or 5 inches, but they lowered the expected Temps as well. Now the forecast looks like this:

Wind chills are expected to bottom out at -40°. I'm breaking out the serious winter gear for this one...

 

[LadyLocust]

Got another 6" of snow last night, less than I expected. Need to get the snow blower out and clear the road, and shovel out the bee hives.
But first I got the smoke house fired up. I'm smoking a couple pounds of habanaro peppers and some cheese. Going to cook up another batch of my famous (in my mind anyway) smoked habanaro pepper hot sauce. Going to send some pepper sauce, smoked cheese, home made ketchup and jerkey to family for Christmas. I know it won't get there in time. But these are tough times, haven't been able to get to the post office for awhile.

Wish you'd share a little more of that white stuff. Don't need to keep it all to yourself ya know. Should be good come spring melt-off.

Went to church then out to lunch with friends. Really thankful for such good people making me feel less alone.
Made a quick stop at the store and then home to deal with work emails.
Daughter called and said she's been offered a job she really wants and will start there Jan 3rd. That's the best news I've had all year!
The way the weather guessers are yelling, I should probably go out to the shop and dig out the snowblower and see if I can get it started. Just don't feel like it. I could always just wait and see, I guess.

Now why would you wanna go out and start it early? That would spoil the fun. You are supposed to wait until you actually need it then find out after a certain period of time that it needs fuel then try again - oh yea, don't forget to air up the tire. See the deal is by the time you have the snow blower all spiffed up and ready to roll, it's spring and you don't need it

Wishing I could hibernate for a while. Trying to get year end stuff in order since next week I will be doing a 16 hr. training course in order to get licensed in a neighboring state - oh joy. I'm sure it will be riveting.
We made it up to 17* today and snow. We were talking at lunch - sometimes it's a warm 17* and sometimes cold - today is a cold 17* Yesterday I brought the crockpot to work and fed everyone veg beef stew. Hot stew is good on a cold day. Today they were on their own I don't want to spoil them.
Got my bronco back - again - yesterday so I now have 4WD. It had a U-joint going out. It still worked, but . . .
Tomorrow I get to pick up my Azure order so will be set on the couple things we need for some time.

 

[Mountain trapper]

So curious to see what your smoke house looks like! you're always smoking up something that sounds amazing.

Here's the smoke house Doc. It does a pretty good job.

 

[Peanut]

Made a trip to the little town. Had 4 empty fuel cans that needed filled. Now I can keep the freezers cold a full week if this winter storm causes power disruptions. Topped of the tank in my truck also.

Got a few items from the market, folks needed 2 bags of frozen diced onions for some reason. I needed some thumb drives, got everything on the list.

No plans but to eat and stay warm until this cold snap passes, everything is ready. Think I'll make a big pot of chili tomorrow. There is a bowl game on tonight, probably watch it.

 

[Bacpacker]

what size is the tall part? 4x6x8' tall? Is the side just a wood box or is that the burn area and you cold smoke?

 

[Bacpacker]

Been working on my 5 building project planning. Yesterday was a cluster#@!$. Walked down 2 buildings that are the largest and most difficult to make things work right. Found that in a 7 story building, there isn't a single comm room that has pass thru's to the roof, nor more than 3 floors stacked over the others. Gonna have to make penetrations to both roofs, one building in 2 areas. No way I'll be able to accurately estimate those buildings. Contengency cost are going up. I was so fired up last night I couldn't sleep and woke up with a horrible stomach ache.
Today wasn't much better and then got our plans changed about noon for the weekend. Losing a whole day tomorrow to work on it. Next week is the deadline. UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pearl]

All hunkered down for the global warming! Will have to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but staying home tomorrow and Friday! Aside from going outside to tend to the donkey, I'm inside!! Got a list of projects, but definitely napping and eating! And napping some more!

 

[Mountain trapper]

what size is the tall part? 4x6x8' tall? Is the side just a wood box or is that the burn area and you cold smoke?

It's 3'×4'×7' tall built on a cement pad with cedar siding. I lined the inside with cement board for fire danger. The box on the side holds wood chunks, charcoal and other miscellaneous stuff.

 

[Wingnut]

Bacpacker, don't let that project give you an ulcer... not the kind of 'Christmas gift' you want, my friend. And Mountain Trapper, that is one beautiful smokehouse, I like it! I could smoke some serious meats in that thing... very nice!

Well, let's see, I spent more time outdoors than expected, so I'm just starting my second load of laundry now... got one more to do, since I'm washing cat blankets & whatnot. I'm also sampling more of my hard apple cider, lol...

That cider is the bomb, and I'm actually drinking some of the yeast, it never gave me a problem the other night! Yeast is supposed to be good for you... I heard it's loaded with B vitamins and maybe some other stuff. Hasn't killed me YET!

I'm gonna crack the second jug soon, probably make it a "festive night of laundry!" Lol. Only around here in this amazing bachelor pad is a 'triple-load evening' of laundry called "festive!" Cider & primo chronic help in that department.

WTHeck, I'll make it even more "festive" by firing rounds through the ceiling and out the roof, maybe touch off some Tet Offensive fireworks and watch the whole $h!thouse go up in flames, lol. No, wait, I'll be HOMELESS...

Okay, we'll SKIP the Tet Offensive fireworks and stick with the rounds through the ceiling & roof... no harm there, we're not in the path of the "Polar Blast" or "Arctic Express" or whatever it's being called at this time, aye?

Probably ain't gonna work on my 'Road Safety' thread tonight, not after pounding some more of my custom homemade hard apple cider, lol... not a chance I'm working on that thread tonight, I gots to do laundry & prep for tomorrow's ride!

 

[backlash]

We are still planning on driving to the Seattle area for Christmas.
It looks like we have good weather tomorrow before 4PM to go West then good weather on Christmas day to drive back.
Between those 2 days it's going to be really bad with snow and ice. I will make the final decision in the morning.
The Toyota is all wheel drive and it does good in the snow but I was still a little concerned so I just went to the tire store and they are going to put on winter rated tires with studs so we should be good.
I have the winter survival kits all ready with more than we should ever need.
I also bought my wife an electric blanket for the car so her and the dog should warm.
Just an FYI Toyota hybrid heaters are not the best. They don't use the radiator water to heat the car they use a heat pump. The AC is also a heat pump.
Live and learn.

 

[Bacpacker]

We are doing a road trip as well. We decided up a day, hopefully less traffic and at least some better weather. Friday is gonna suck on our route. So Thursday it is

 

[Wingnut]

Hell, yeah, BP, go early and beat the crowd PLUS the bad weather! "GOOD ON YA, MATE!!!"

 

[Bacpacker]

Thank you sir. That was my thinking too. I hate holiday traffic. Pile bad weather on and nothing good comes from it. I had already plotted out a highways to get away from the interstate

 

[Wingnut]

Ya do what ya gotta do to make it to your destination... IMHO, leaving early REALLY bolsters that effort, ya know? Later, some chumps will be forced to take that alternate route you considered, or else spend a hellish FREEZING & DOWNRIGHT UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT in their snow-and-icebound vehicles. With NO beer or hard cider!!!

I *almost* hate to say this, but I'm going RIDING manana on the Monstah Thumpah, and I intend to HAVE A BLAST in 60* F weather, possibly a little higher... and I'm NOT gonna feel GUILTY for doing this, I ride out the hot triple-digit summers for this VERY reason, lol. Pics will be taken, my friend, so YOU and other MX fooliots shall go along for the ride, AYE?

RIGHT NOW, I'M FEELING SO MERRY FROM THE HARD APPLE CIDER THAT I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD!!!

 

[Bacpacker]

Enjoy that Thumper manana. Ill be thinking about you havin a blast while I'm tooling along behind Delbert Dumb@$$driving 50 in the passing lane.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Had some problems tonight with the generator shutting down. Turns out it was low on coolant.

 

[Wingnut]

Enjoy that Thumper manana. Ill be thinking about you havin a blast while I'm tooling along behind Delbert Dumb@$$driving 50 in the passing lane.

In a friggin' RV, lol...

Winnebago Warrior

 

[Peanut]

Have a good time and be safe @Bacpacker . I'd be watching the big trucks or the absence of them in snow country. If they start filling up truck stops its for a reason. I've seen it on I90 between buffalo and chicago a few times.

Edit to add... put this on your phone. Devil's Courthouse in Pisgah Was thinking about this place tonight. the nps had this photo. merry christmas!

 

[dademoss]

Lori leaves tomorrow afternoon for the horsesitting/catsitting at the farm. I'll be sitting by the radios doing "channel watch", in case we are needed. So listen to the radio, read my book, and tend to the critters.

 

[Wingnut]

YOU DA MAN, PEANUT!!! AND DADEMOSS!!!

And here's another video link for those who HAVE to DRIVE as this big ol' POLAR BLAST hits, "10-DASH-FO'?"

Balls To The Wall

 

[Amish Heart]

Little granddaughter screaming when she saw a possum in the garage. The possum ran for it, but it's still in there. She says that they are the ugliest things on the face of the earth, and was looking for one of the barn cats. Looking at the weather and the best time to start animals tomorrow. Looks like negative 6 is at 11 am.

 

[zannej]

Teej, I'm glad the tooth wasn't too hard to fix and wasn't as expensive.

Mom just paged so I forgot all of my other thoughts.

Got my truck back & turned in the rental car. Lady asked if I lived on a gravel road. LOL. Cost a bit over $1k for the truck getting fixed & they forgot to check what was causing the emissions warning light to be on. *sigh*

Gotta go get water for mom.

 

[Mountain trapper]

It's 2 am and the generator shut down again.

 

[Tommyice]

Work has been an absolute bear lately. The other tech that has the most experience (and the most age behind him) has put in his notice. He's 60 years old and the physicality of the job has finally got him. He got a job where he gets to sit and will be making about $6/hour more than he currently is--the downside for him is commuting into NYC. Jan 30 is his last day. I did convince him to work one Sunday a month to keep his options and discount available. We're short techs as it is. I've been spending all my time calling around to other stores looking/begging for help. The only thing I have to use as "bait"--we have no drive thru and don't do Covid testing. The pharmacist in charge at our "sister store in town" has told her techs that they have to help me out.

Tomorrow starts my three day weekend. Friday I'll be taking Dad to Costco for a top off trip then I'll be preparing more of the fleece I'm working on. I probably have about 1/3 of it left to wash. My next fleece will be purchased in spring after shearing so I can wash it in larger quantity outside. Saturday will be spent baking and chilling. Sunday will be spent with 20 cousins in South Jersey. I can't wait!

 

[sonya123]

Bacpacker....and this is why I am no longer a project manager....hope you get your project sorted out and don't let it stress you out too much. Tell yourself" it's just a job" ....I tried to do that when I woke up in middle of the night dreading the next meeting....

Mountain Trapper: nice smokehouse! All we have is a small propane smoker. And after reading about your generator I am going to tell husband to check ours. We have 2 but only one big enough to run major stuff

Zannej : glad you got hay for your cow

Yesterday was a beautiful day, cool but sunny and calm. We had a nice day and a bonfire. Today we are going to pay for it...ice rain coming down now, ice on the trees already. Haven't been out so not sure if the ice is on the road yet. Son wants to go to town to do some shopping. We;ll see, can't afford to buy him another car this year. I might have to talk him out of it. Daughter still going on her trip to resort and then here. I know I can't talk her out of anything she wants to do. But, EVERY trip she makes anywhere she gets really bad weather! It's like she is jinxed or something.

Animals are staying in until it stops raining hopefully , then we will move some of them out and clean and put them back. Going to do some last minute cleaning , the floor again...I need to teach the dogs to wipe their paws

 

[Magus]

I need to teach the dogs to wipe their paws

Astroturf. they think its grass. just watch them or they'll squat scoot on it!

 

[sonya123]

Astroturf. they think its grass. just watch them or they'll squat scoot on it!

Magus...lol, we live on a farm....we are surrounded by mud and dirt when it pours outside....
LOL , you're funny
When we first moved here I actually had a bucket of water outside the door and would wash off their paws and dry them , but that turned out to be way too much of a hassle and the dogs also didn't like it