Coffee anyone ?

[frustratedearthmother]

I think it's cool! Not my style, but I can admire something that's unique and a bit different!

 

[Weldman]

Definitely not a house for everyone. Rumors I've heard (may or may not be true) - roof leaks, the wife of the guy who built it didn't like it and never lived there (not sure if he did or not). Current owners (son and daughter inlaw) own a bakery in the La Jolla area and do not live there.

Seriously, the place needs updated. I doubt and if it does it is easily fixed on the roof. Mostly got a firebreak around it, though need to replace vegetation with gravel up to 100' from the house. Over all it is about going prices for 40 acres with a house as that out here.

 

[SageHill]

Seriously, the place needs updated. I doubt and if it does it is easily fixed on the roof. Mostly got a firebreak around it, though need to replace vegetation with gravel up to 100' from the house. Over all it is about going prices for 40 acres with a house as that out here.

Yup - it is a tad bit dated -- the leaking roof came from our contractor - He's the kind of guy that does things the right way first. Of course he's not a fan of different roof styles, esp flat type roofs.

 

[RR Homestead]

Try to prepare as best as you can for the trip. If you drive straight through how many hours is that? Is there someone that could switch off with you while husband drives the other truck and trailer? It would be exhausting, but better on the cattle. Or send husband and another person to help unload while you stay with the cattle, then take the cattle. No easy way to figure this out. I know you want them safely in their new home, barn and shelter from winter that will be so different from where they are now. Don't forget health papers!

It is 2000 miles one way give or take a few miles. In a car it took me 3 days with minimal stops for sleep. Would absolutely take longer with a loaded trailer. I had a dear friend from 2 states away offer to help me drive the cattle and possibly haul our big tractor with their rig today. We are thinking maybe on the last couple loads having her haul the big tractor while I haul another flatbed load of equipment. Her rig can legally haul it but that would be it for that load. Then have her go home and fly in when we are ready to haul the two to three loads of livestock (to be determined) and we would tag team it to drive straight through. Then fly home from MO instead of driving back with me. That's a huge ask of a distant friend. I was really touched they offered. We will see if it works out at all. Unfortunately my husband and I can't leave here at the same time. He's staying here working until the move is basically complete and hopefully this place is sold. Still have to get hired on there to keep the bills paid. We aren't really sure how it will all work out. Just know it's going to be a challenge.

I have a suggestion... it will cost some money... but why not find a reliable livestock hauler that can and will get the cattle there in less than 24 hours??? There are dairy cattle shipped across the country every day... I will do a little checking and see what a couple of my dairy farms do. One shows cattle and the other has sold cattle that were shipped to Fla from here in Va... 12 hr trip... either one of them might have a better solution for you. I do know his cattle got milked just before they left, loaded on the truck, and milked when they got off... His are registered jerseys sold to a farm that milks over 1,000 down in Fla...

How many miles from where you are to the new place???

Is this cow one that you have calves grafted on? Why not just leave the older calves on her, so there will be no transition to make sure new babies are eating and all that... just let the older ones have her and they will take care of the "milking part".... You may have to give up some of the milking part... to let her just finish raising these calves until you are settled and can take over milking... and her production may fall off some for this lactation... but if she settles to this breeding, then the familiar calves will be one less stress on her... and you can start over with her new lactation when she finally calves again... there are livestock markets in MO... there will be a place to sell the calves currently on her if that is what they are being raised for...

Honestly with a move that distance, I would consider a moving company that will get it all there in just a day or 2 and all you have to do is direct where they are putting the boxes as they unload...
You said yourself that you have to stay there once the cattle are there... Get the most you can boxed up, get a moving co to do the actual heavy moving stuff, and stop stressing over all the little stuff...

If you had the luxury of someone on one end to take care of things while you were away it would be one thing... like @Ridgetop with their move across country... but they have taken over 2 years to do this... with people on either end to watch over things... and it did not all go perfect and there was a learning curve and a loss curve...

Cattle cannot be held up at check points going across the country... unless there is a question about brands/stolen animals and such.....drivers cannot be stopped and held up at weigh stations and such with livestock.... again, unless there are questions of ownership/stolen animals etc... they will get on the truck and come direct to your new farm...

I will check with a couple of farms to find out what they know about haulers...

It is 12 hours to where we have hauled beef cattle to the VT/Canadian border to a friends place, from our farm in Va. Straight drive through with 2 of us driving one time... just my son driving a different time by himself... He stopped at a rest area and took a short 2 hour nap... hauled at night in the cooler temps...
Temp will not be a worry for you... the weather conditions will be with snow and ice inbetween you and there...

2000 miles.
Yes this cow is the one I've been grafting onto on that thread. The two calves are too big. They should already be weaned and they are beating her up pretty badly. My hope is to wean the last graft and put the two new calves on with her natural calf then wean him once the two are on or even leave them all on until I have to wean him. He's not nearly as abusive to her as the graft but the graft eats the most.
We discussed the moving companies but it is quite expensive and there's a lot of issues with trucking these days. While I agree it might be a lot less stress I don't think that's in the cards with all the expenses and the timing we are already dealing with. We originally planned on using PODS but again the cost (we'd need quite a few) would be pretty substantial. Our house stuff is honestly the least of the packing/moving. I think I will be able to take that all in 1 load. It's all the animal equipment etc that is going to be the most time consuming I think. I had been researching a semi but have been struggling to find anyone to do it. Especially a reliable hauler.
The people on the MO end is the main concern. I was hoping to pay my nephew to stay there while I go back and forth but he failed his DL test again so he can't drive alone. Can't have him living out of town with no transportation.
We did discuss haulers for the livestock. The cost was substantial and I'm not comfortable with the dairy cows going with any of the haulers that I know of. There might be dairy specialized haulers like you are talking about that may come here. That I haven't found out yet. My plan is to haul the dairy cows and the horse in one load. The beef cows in another load. We did discuss shipping the beef cows via a hauler who lives in MO and has family out here but the cost was significant and really makes it not worth taking them vs value of the animals to replace. I would love to know some trustworthy haulers if you find out of any.
As I said above (sorry if you already read it) a friend from another state offered today to possibly tag team hauling the livestock so we can drive straight through. We'll see if that comes to something.

I believe moving expenses can be tax write-offs. Just a thought.

I will be looking into that! I was wondering on the business end but didn't know that was a thing. Thanks!

Believe that write off is limited...like job transfers, etc. . But could cover a business move? Worth asking, researching IRS.gov site. Don't expect it

Worth checking on for sure. I've been keeping records on money spent anyways.

Very wise advice on moving the cattle from @farmerjan . If you can't afford a moving van for all your belongings, then pack all you can in the trailer, get a friend or someone to go with your husband to unload while you stay with the cattle. It may take several trips or rent the biggest truck you can find.

Unfortunately my husband has to stay here until the move is complete. He will be staying here to continue working and preparing this place to sell while I do the moving. The pets and cattle will be the last loads. Most likely the beef cattle first since they are the most self sufficient and maybe I can find someone to check on them a few times. The pets and cattle may be the last load and hubby takes the pets and travel trailer (a place to sleep on the way too) and I take the dairy cows and horse. Not counting out any ideas at this point just trying to figure out how to make it all work out.

Thanks everyone for the advice!!!!

 

[RR Homestead]

Good evening all! Sounds like everyone had a good weekend!
We got the roof of the trailer prepped last night. It's so much worse than expected. Manufacturer knows better than to be lazy and use metal screws on an aluminum trailer for starters. It's going to have to have all the screws taken out and replaced with rivets if possible. All the screws used to attach the top to the sides are rusted solid. This causes a galvanic reaction. Had their sealing tape done it's job it most likely wouldn't have been an issue for many years but it failed in so many spots almost every single screw (self tappers) is rusted solid. If not removed they will eat the aluminum to the point that nothing will be able to replace the screws and secure the top. To say I'm a lot upset, especially at the cost of the trailer, is an understatement. Sadly the manufacturer is too big to fail and refuses to talk to lowly customers. Even the dealer we bought it from has a hard time with the manufacturer. Information that would have been very appreciated BEFORE ordering the trailer. This was my dream trailer. That ended pretty much upon arrival from the manufacturer. I think we've decided that once the move is over we're going to sell it and replace it with a good old fashioned steal trailer again. Trailers been unloaded and the roof washed today. Getting it prepped for the new sealing tape. Hope to be packing it again by the end of the week at the latest.
Got 19 pints of pinto beans canned tonight. Hope to do 19 more pints of kidney beans tomorrow. Maybe one more round after that then start packing the caner and supplies. Still need to grind and package up the trays of pumpkin puree from the freeze drier. Might make some butter too. Not sure yet. Still have another stack of dishes to wash. I swear dishes reproduce on their own.
Tomorrow will be interesting. We are supposed to sign the closing papers for the property but I'm guarded on if that can even take place tomorrow. I have a feeling it's going to get dragged out even longer.
Y'all have a great monday! Happy December all!

 

[fuzzi]

 

[Mini Horses]

Sorry about your trailer. My first thought -- manufacturer! Seems you've been there, not good.

New injectors in tractor. Now, a 6 mo old starter won't work. Taking that back to dealer this morn. If bench test shows them bad, then what? Wait for another. Hate to wait. I'm thinking, when I picked this up, gal told me it came from a town that's about 30 miles from them. Yep, call them, if one there, I'll drive! Guess we're all having "don't make it like they used to" issues. And a bad bag of feed is being returned this morn, too. I'll be on the road all day. At least the weather is good.

DS will get the new truck front end rebuilt today. All parts are here....the rotor arrived a day early. Hooray!

The darned starter thing kept me tossing after I got to bed but, finally settled & slept fairly well. This coffee will get me moving. Then hit the road and I can get that starter today! It would sure make me happy, I need to use the tractor!!!! Frustrated.

 

[Weldman]

Yup - it is a tad bit dated -- the leaking roof came from our contractor - He's the kind of guy that does things the right way first. Of course he's not a fan of different roof styles, esp flat type roofs.

Problem with custom build homes that are architecturally different is what is one envisions can be another ones nightmare. Most people prefer to live in a box as they can't think outside of a box. others see a simple home as good enough and some can't afford it.

Three below zero outside right now, I get to play on the house...yipee Maybe I can get the customer some frost bite, he is use to Seattle WA type weather, this is his first winter here.

 

[Mini Horses]

use to Seattle WA type weather, this is his first winter here

WOW -- what a rude awakening for them!

 

[Weldman]

WOW -- what a rude awakening for them!

Tried warning him about needing gloves, he took it as a test to his manhood if he had to wear some. Now he has learned metal can cause instant frost burn/bite in sub zero temperatures as I got the text last night. Kept getting splinters, burning his hands on burning barrel and smashing a finger with his hammer, but it took one bite from frost bite to wake him up. Yep don't listen to me...