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Just made it up to the pump house. Of course it started snowing hard while I was on the tractor. The pilot light was out again on the heater inside. The inside temp was only down to 34 degrees, so nothing froze. I'll go out before dark to work on the road some more and check on the heater.
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Internet is back on, they had to come out and mess with it to get it to work again.
One tree on the barn ( no damage , it's the barn we only use to store hay bales under) and we have no idea how to get it off. It's just at a weird angle. Will take a photo tomorrow
2 trees down almost hit the house, MANY branches down all over. I took Otto for a walk and it was just looking like a hurricane went through there. But weird, many trees just had the tops broken off. I have never experienced anything like it, and don't want to again!! Got almost no sleep and it was so loud outside, listening to the trees break and fall down. Called son at 1 am to tell him to come sleep at the main house ( his house has lots of trees around it) and he told me to go away and let him sleep....his house is ok , some large branches did fall down but fell on the fence instead , but we got the fence up again, at least in that pasture, haven't looked everywhere yet

I am SO over this weather .....and more to come next week
 
Drinking doesn't help make life any better. At best it just dulls the issues for a short time. Dump the booze and have a glass of juice instead. That's what I'm drinking right now. Despite all of the negative BS on the news life really is pretty good.
I agree on the drinking. Had vodka when Axel died, did not help. Felt bad the next day too.
Plus I have noticed I don't sleep as well if I even have a little bit of alcohol. I think it is most useful if you start feeling sick and have a shot of something. That works

Amish sorry about your daughter, that's so sad.....mine has problems too ( very different ones but still problems). It's so sad seing your kids not do well for whatever reason
 
Just made it up to the pump house. Of course it started snowing hard while I was on the tractor. The pilot light was out again on the heater inside. The inside temp was only down to 34 degrees, so nothing froze. I'll go out before dark to work on the road some more and check on the heater.
View attachment 173472
Solar Panel covered with Snow again... Can't You run a heat cable/cord around the edge...?!?
 
Solar Panel covered with Snow again... Can't You run a heat cable/cord around the edge...?!?
I don't have electric at the pump house, except for when the generator is running. This time of year the well pump generator only runs for about 40 minutes a day at the most. I don't know if that would be enough to do any good.
 

@Mountain trapper

What Is Solar Powered Heat Tape​


Solar powered heat tape is a game-changer for those in cold regions. It uses the sun’s energy to prevent freezing and protect various materials.

How does it work? It’s simple, really. The heat tape has a heat-conducting material that runs its entire length. This material helps in retaining warmth, which in turn keeps the desired area from freezing over.

What’s more, it’s eco-friendly. Solar heat tapes rely on the sun, saving you money and conserving energy. Say goodbye to grid-related worries and embrace solar-powered heating solutions. You’re not only taking care of your home but also the environment.

How Do Solar Powered Heat Tapes Work?​


Solar powered heat tapes are great for keeping your pipes from freezing. They use solar energy to power heating elements wrapped around the pipes. This way, you can save on electricity costs and help the environment.

First, the solar panel collects sunlight and converts it into electricity. This process is called solar energy conversion. It’s quite efficient in terms of harnessing the sun’s power.

The electricity from the solar panel is then used to heat the resistive element inside the tape. This heating element transfers warmth to the pipe, keeping it from freezing and possibly bursting.

A key benefit is that solar powered heat tapes have a low environmental impact. They use a clean, renewable energy source – the sun – to keep your pipes warm. So, you can feel good about using them at your home or business.

...

Now it’s time to attach the tape. Start by placing the tape on the surface. If the surface is rough, use a firm adhesive such as duct tape to secure it in place. If it’s smooth, a thin double-sided tape is ideal.

Safety tip! Keep the tape flat and avoid crimps while attaching it.

Finally, connect the tape to your solar system. Plug the wires from the tape into the solar panel or controller. If necessary, refer to the product manual for specific instructions.

https://sunsoakedsolar.com/solar-powered-heat-tape/

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:lightbulb:
 
Same old winter stuff.
Dishes, meals, laundry.
My facebook account has been suspended for "community standards" but not which "standard" I violated :rolleyes: 🤣
They want a video verification before I can get back on. Not happening.
I can live without fakebook. I got banned at twitter years ago and have survived just fine
Onward and upward
 
Heading to work today! Decent weather in the low 50's! Going to get some outside things done (clean Buddy's water trough, get cat house bedding ready for next week, etc.). I'll start restocking my porch and house firewood ahead of next week's artic air and winter precip!! Will also make sure the generator and extension cords are ready for an easy grab, just in case!
 
It gets above freezing today, maybe even to 40!! Happy Valentines Day to all of you...little granddaughter is excited, I do believe she has a crush she made a Valentine for. Husband had some flowers sent to me yesterday, the sweet man. We are getting takeout pizza, wings...my pick. Will need to get husband in the truck today to have him drive just a few miles (about 4) to pick up our beater truck at the mechanic guys place, so I'll drive that back. Possibly getting over to my favorite cousin's place for a belated birthday for her, it was a few days ago and it was too cold and snowy to go out. Looks like we have an above freezing couple of days until next Monday thru Thursday...then more snow and back in the below 0 weather.
 
slept well last night, no falling trees...
But more really bad weather coming. And just when our sheep are due to have lambs. We have never had animals give birth in zero degree weather before. We wait until mid to end Feb to start, because usually it is much warmer then. But this year we might as well have had them in December. It would have been warmer
Goats are not due till March thankfully
So we are going to get the warmest room in the barn ready today and put all the sheep that look like they are ready to pop in it Sunday ( due dates starting Monday, cold arriving Wednesday)
I still haven;t started any seeds yet, but the way the weather is going this year, I will probably put nothing in the garden until May....

No major plans today, everyone wants eggs and I am debating when we should go to town to deliver them . We are not going to raise prices until the market starts so they are getting a good deal ( same cost as walmart eggs for good eggs)
 
Same old winter stuff.
Dishes, meals, laundry.
My facebook account has been suspended for "community standards" but not which "standard" I violated :rolleyes: 🤣
They want a video verification before I can get back on. Not happening.
I can live without fakebook. I got banned at twitter years ago and have survived just fine
Onward and upward
the only thing I use FB for is getting info on our market sometimes ( it has a page) and buying things
for some reason most of the farm sales stuff except animals has moved from Craigslist to FB
 
Not feeling too good this morning. Must be coming down with something. Anyway, it snowed all night and it's supposed to snow for the next 6 days. After breakfast I need to go work on the snowblower. It's got a flat tire and a broken shear pin. I need to try and hammer out the bent chute housing before it gets worse. Then I'll start clearing the road. We have a doctor appointment on Monday. That gives me a couple days to get the road cleared. Of course I'll cancel the appointment if I'm not feeling better by then.
 
Animal chores were a bear, really, really bad winds out there and 30 degrees, which is better than yesterday. The dog and I pulled that wagon and plowed away at it. Husband says he wants to pickup the truck, so we'll do that after lunch. Favorite cousin expecting me over this afternoon. So looking forward to that. She is bringing the birthday casserole dish over to another cousin, Perry, who is 86 today. My favorite cousin was gifted it last Wednesday on her birthday with a good casserole, so now it is her turn to fill it with a good casserole and bring it to the next birthday person.
 
I stayed home yesterday and today..a tad under the weather I think from breathing in hours of sub zero air at work alot..just finally caught up to me, got worn out, tired n lungs are kinda trashed.
It was good timing since about 6 inches of snow fell yesterday and this am..
So I'm just doing stuff at home getting caught up on chores , finished a rug and now shoveling out my path to park on.
It's nice to enjoy home for a few days instead of rushing to get chores done...
I'm fully taking advantage of this time then back to the grind next monday..
 
I didn't do much today. After feed and watering I ran the small snowblower around on our walkways and shoveled snow off the steps and put salt down. Then I napped most of the day. It quit snowing just before lunch, but more is coming tonight, tomorrow and through Wednesday. If I feel like it I'll work on the road tomorrow. Except I really need to go check on the heater at the pump house today. Fortunately we're done with the below zero days, only down in teens now.
 
@snappy1 ^^^...https://www.batteriesplus.com/store-locator
I had already ordered a two pack of new batteries. They are not original, but the original ones were all used because my camera is a digital dinosaur. Less than $20 for a two pack. Already has tracking info so hopefully will get here sooner.
 
Just made it up to the pump house. Of course it started snowing hard while I was on the tractor. The pilot light was out again on the heater inside. The inside temp was only down to 34 degrees, so nothing froze. I'll go out before dark to work on the road some more and check on the heater.
View attachment 173472
That looks like a decent and hard working JD. The only ones I know are smaller and have a cab for air conditioning in the summer months, that and keeping dust, debris and what-not out of your face. Enclosed cabs still aren't all their cracked-up be, but I'd take the comfort compared to facing blowing snow in sub-zero temps.
 
I had already ordered a two pack of new batteries. They are not original, but the original ones were all used because my camera is a digital dinosaur. Less than $20 for a two pack. Already has tracking info so hopefully will get here sooner.
My "good" digital (Nikon DX60) is a dinosaur too, but I know how to use it :)
 
That looks like a decent and hard working JD. The only ones I know are smaller and have a cab for air conditioning in the summer months, that and keeping dust, debris and what-not out of your face. Enclosed cabs still aren't all their cracked-up be, but I'd take the comfort compared to facing blowing snow in sub-zero temps.
When I bought that tractor a cab wasn't available at the time. A cab would be nice, especially in winter.
 

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