Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Yep, I'm tired of it... Got the for sale signs to put in it tomorrow, got a sheet to tape inside with basic info listed on it... Going to take it to another ford dealership about an hour north of here to get an appraisal/offer.... might just say TS and sell it direct to a dealer at this point....
Gotta get a shower and go to bed so I can get going earlier tomorrow to make some stops on the way....

 

[farmerjan]

Well, things didn't go quite as planned so I got a later start than I wanted and did not stop at the ford dealership on my way to work.
But, DS called and said that GF and J , or whoever, had put it on several sites on the internet.... And that a friend had asked him about it since I hadn't even gotten the signs in the windows yesterday, he stopped in at Davis' there where I had parked it and he told him to call DS since he didn't know much about it. So he talked to DS and he said to call me and I talked to him on the way to the farm. His wife (or GF?) has a "bug" so can't come look at it for a day or 2... I told him about it and said I would be glad to meet him down there to look at it... told him I was asking 19,500 but it was negotiable... he is a decent neighbor, went to bat for DS on the tower and went to several of the meetings/hearings when he was going through that... and he said he would call me in a couple days as soon as she felt a little better. I said I had someone else that was interested in looking at it but I would be glad to show it to him. That was from it sitting there less than 24 hours.....

I told DS it was a good thing I had taken it to the farm today since there were cops out everywhere on the interstate... saw 4 on the north bound side (my side) going to the farm... and 3 on the southbound side... several sitting in the center crossovers on the interstate and a couple in the travel lanes also.... There was a lot of traffic going up so good that I did leave a bit early and didn't make any stops. I got there about a half hour early, and if I had stopped I would have been late.
Took an hour to test and another 1/2 hour to do the paperwork.... he is hoping that the cows will be gone within the month. He is ready to quit. Has someone coming the end of the week or early next week to look at them... I think there will be 25-30 total for sale counting the couple of dry cows and the closeup springing heifers. I hate to see it but I understand.

While testing I got a couple of texts. I checked them and one was from a "car buying group" south of me near where DS goes to the special dr at Va Tech for his neck and shoulder... They saw the explorer listed and wanted to see about making a possible offer.... So rather than text them back, I called and talked directly to a guy.... gave him the vin # and he ran it..... I explained about the mileage and that DMV said it would be corrected when the lien was lifted (paid off) and a new title issued.... He said they have an automated "program" that sends out these texts on vehicles that meet their initial parameters, and then they go from there.... They offered me 15,150 SIGHT UNSEEN.... over the phone.... they would like to see it if I was interested.... I explained that the local Ford dealership had offered me more than that and had advised me to sell it direct if I could since I could probably get more. But they said if I was interested, to give them a call...

It amazes me that it could have been sold by now if I hadn't been waiting around for J to get the "time" to get it cleaned up. I mean, I waited all those months getting the stupid DMV to get the title straightened up....
Hopefully it will get sold within a month or less. I will let the neighbor have it for less than the asking price... I want to make sure he is aware of the salt it has been in up north and all... I don't want to screw him over... I told him that the ford place had made me an offer and they said to try to sell it privately as I could get more for it.... and if he makes me any offer above what they are going to give me, I will sell it to him.

It is a shame I don't like it more as it does drive nice and has comfortable seats... but all that fancy touch screen crap and not being able to just turn a knob and punch a button for a radio station is just too much BS... I still haven't figured out how to get the "trip" odometer to work... can't get it to zero out.... I am just too used to pushing the little button and it "zero's it out" and starts over... And sitting so far down in it... not being able to reach out the window comfortably.... and it is so closed in feeling...And every time it starts down the road it locks all the doors... and I kept forgetting it and couldn't get the back open until I unlocked the button on the inside of the drivers door.... .

I stopped at the "new farm" on the way home that I just did a tank sample of a week or 2 ago... they wanted to send in another sample... He is having trouble with his scc count being way too high and they have had some stray voltage which affects the cows (they get zapped sometimes in the barn) and he thinks they got it taken care of so wanted to see if the scc dropped. Will do this sample and then another in a week... he really wants to test... I just cannot figure out how the meters will work in there with no stationary pipe to hang them on. And I really don't want to take on another farm.... but might have to.

Locked in the chickens when I got home and then just sat down. I need to find something to eat but not real hungry...

I think I posted it in the "coffee" thread; I had 2 mice together on a sticky trap this morning... this might have been the 2 that were playing tag in the LR even though they were up on the kitchen counter next to the little convection oven.... I was thrilled to get 2 more gone....

Was a pretty nice day, chilly 35 but up to 56.... part sun and high cloudiness... "bright" out there. Rain looks like we will have it by 2-3 a.m. but now it is supposed to move through and be some sun late aft and WINDY with gusts in the 30-50 MPH range.... WOW .

Going to bed in a little bit, I'm tired....

 

[Bruce]

And every time it starts down the road it locks all the doors... and I kept forgetting it and couldn't get the back open until I unlocked the button on the inside of the drivers door.... .

DW's Leaf does that when it gets to about 15 MPH and I ABSOLUTELY hate it. I see it as a safety hazard, can't open the doors unless the vehicle is turned off (maybe if it is put in Park??) or the unlock button on the door is hit. The driver can open all doors, the shotgun seat only unlocks that door. In the back seat? Tough ****, you can't get out.

What happens if you are in an accident and aren't conscious, how do the first people there render assistance without the jaws of life? And do you really want to rip the car apart to open the doors?

When we deliver eggs on the way to visit DW's parents I can let myself out but I can't open the back door to get the eggs out until DW unlocks the doors ... and she isn't real fast at remembering to do so.

All because the stupid car locks and it can't be defeated. If it auto locks when you go over 15 MPH it should auto unlock when you drop below 15 MPH.

 

[SageHill]

That autolock feature is a PITA. I wish there was a way to turn it off. The auto parking break - another PITA - have to push the button at the right time. Grrrr. Thank Goodness the truck doesn't have that (it has the lever old style that always works the way you expect). I should play with the autolock on that to see how that one works.

 

[farmerjan]

@Bruce the explorer is exactly like your Leaf.... There aren't even any key holes on the back doors... I went to get something out and had the key in hand and no place to use the key. I HATE IT.
Never thought about the danger in an emergency situation like an accident or something.

 

[Mini Horses]

My truck locks all doors when you start driving. There is a control on driver door that will allow backseaters to unlock or not -- child safety. The front passenger door has a key hole but, key won't unlock it, only driver side, which also has a punch in code for keyless entry. You can unlock only thru driver door (at least, all I know) and then driver Dr button can be used to open all other doors. That doesn't bother me, at least no one can get in your vehicle just because you unlock and get in...I can choose to let them. Older truck, so not a lot of other "auto for you" electronics. Not even remote lock with fob!

 

[Bruce]

The auto parking break - another PITA - have to push the button at the right time.

That could be a serious pain here. No garage. If it rains and the cars aren't driven for a time the brakes rust.

@Bruce the explorer is exactly like your Leaf.... There aren't even any key holes on the back doors... I went to get something out and had the key in hand and no place to use the key. I HATE IT.

Back doors meaning rear of the vehicle or back meaning rear passenger doors? I've never seen a vehicle with the latter.

There is only the one keyhole (in the driver's door) in any car we've owned since DW got her Prius in 2006. That lock is used only if the battery in the Smart Key fob dies. Both front doors and the rear hatch lock/unlock with the touch of a finger. No need to get keys or fob out of your pocket/purse. You can set it up so touching the switch opens just that door or all doors.

You can unlock only thru driver door

Royal PITA!!

That doesn't bother me, at least no one can get in your vehicle just because you unlock and get in...I can choose to let them.

I choose to live where that isn't a concern

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That doesn't bother me, at least no one can get in your vehicle just because you unlock and get in...I can choose to let them.

I choose to live where that isn't a concern

@Bruce

It's not always about where you live, lol. I was on a trip alone some years back. Stopped at a very busy, well-known roadside mega-convenience store. Came out to my car and two men who had been standing on the porch talking walked to the other side of my car and stopped, one at the front passenger door and one at the back. At that point I didn't unlock ANY of the doors. Turned around and went back to the store and asked a large gentleman to walk out with me. No problem after that!

 

[Mini Horses]

@frustratedearthmother ... Exactly! I am ok with not having more than my door open at shopping areas. You can open a door from inside this truck with it in motion. That's the idea of the child safety button. Its a 4 door. This truck will be 20 this coming yr. Just turned 200k. So hoping it's around a good while longer. My car, also will be 20 and is at 105k miles. Hate the car but, runs great and 27-29 mpg is ok. It will get a new set of tires this yr.

 

[farmerjan]

Thursday night. Just got home from testing and putting the chickens in the crate.
It has been "a day" for the last couple of days. Wed was a rainy and windy day. It cleared off late afternoon. We got .4 inch total which surprised me. It was cold and raw out. I had to spend quite a bit of time on the phone for work which gets to me... I am just not a phone person for all these pain in the butt calls.
Went down and got the outback, heater fan and cig lighter fixed... said I needed to take it to the guy to do the exhaust system... and that they think a wheel is maybe bent and that is the problem with the shimmy... and that tire needs replacing... and that because it is AWD , you are supposed to replace all 4 at a time due to differences in tire sizes from different companies.... even if the tire is a certain size... different companies will make them a little bit different and if the difference is only 1/4 inch in height, it puts strain on the transmission since with AWD it is engaged in all 4 tires at the same time.. so different sizes even a smidgen... will cause transmission problems... I can't remember them telling me that...
I have been getting 2 new tires to put on the front and putting the fronts on the back to wear down more... I put a snow type tread on the front last time for better traction in the snow.....so now I am going to have to see if I can match the brand of the fronts... even though there is a little difference tread wear, so make sure the tire is the same "size" from the same company, as the fronts that are on it... since I have to replace the one that is getting worn... DS said he would see if I had another set of wheels for it... I thought I did but it might be the forester. AND the forester is also AWD... so having an extra set of wheels for it for the snow treads is not helpful....
Don't need to worry about it if it is 2 wd or 4 wd or FRONT wheel drive... tires can be different manufacturers with a smidgen difference in "size"... as long as they are the "same size tire".... 4wd is more important for them to be the same ....like 16 inch 225/75.... but on the 2wd I have 14 inch... 205/75 on the back and I think the fronts are 195/75 ..... because the front and back axles operate independently....and that was what was available at the time I blew a tire and I replaced both since the other was worn.... but I have a couple of odd ones for it that have good tread.... and I have a separate set of wheels for it with snow tires on them and I think that they are 215/75 because that is what I got at the time and they get taken off every year after the snow so have lasted for years....and it is 2 wd drive....and I do not go long distances with it much anyway... Give me the old vehicles that didn't have all this BS.... I will probably not buy another AWD because of that. Stick with one drive axle so the tires can be more flexible. I am so used to all the trucks we have and being able to stick tires on them; although most of them are 4 wd and the brands of tires do not make the same difference because we do not run them in 4wd except in very dicey road conditions, and then they are not run fast or far. DS puts heavier load tires on the back axles for the loads on them... and many times does not put as heavy a tread on the front so they steer easier.....

So DS called me on Wed and said are you working Thursday???? PRELUDE to he needs me to do something..... I said yes, I have to go to crosskeys... he said what time do you have to go and I said I need to leave by 1 p.m. So he says could I go with him in the morning to help the neighbor get in his steers... and then we can bring the heifer that has been over there back ( she got out through the useless HI-Tensile wire at one pasture that is not electrifiable... and they just put her in with their steers.)and that we might need to take a couple of the steers to town for Jimmy. DS was going to be off, but then his boss was going to have to be off and it would be better for him to not take off several hours... So we worked it out that I would take my car up there with all my testing stuff in it...ready to go to work.... and he would come from work, get the truck and trailer and come to the place they were going to load the steers, and then I could follow Jimmy to town with his load and whatever wouldn't fit in his trailer, on our trailer... and then just bring the heifer back.... we have had a few get over on him a couple times and he has always been "don't worry about it we will get them in when we get that group caught up" type of thing... never charging us for them "eating his grass"... so making a trip to town with a few of his was the least we could do.... So DS came to help load the steers which went like clockwork, he took my car back to the barn and I followed Jimmy to town with his load .... unloaded, put the heifer back on the truck... and came back. Left truck and trailer at the barn and he was going to take the heifer to pasture later, and I got my car and came home since I was running earlier than I had originally allowed for.

GOOD THING... I got back to the house... and came in and had to take a phone call... and just as I got off and went out to leave for work a little early.... heard this squawking, and go out and there is that @#%#@ chicken hawk trying to get the buff leghorn rooster... Rooster was trying to get in under the brushy bush and screaming as much as he could... I ran out and went running for them and got within 10 ft before the hawk realized and let him go and flew off to the tree nearby... I was going to grab it...hoping with the brushy stuff that he would be a bit tangled up in it....and had pulled my sweatshirt arms down over my hands and figured I would break its neck if I could get it as I knew it would fight me......The rooster dug his way under the bush as far as he could.... I came in the house to get the gun and remembered that DS took it to clean it back awhile ago and never brought it back....came back out and that hawk sat there in the tree next to the clothesline.... watching me... Finally flew off to another tree. Then left the area and I couldn't see him anymore. I could not get to the rooster as he was buried into the thick brush.... Finally had to leave to go to work and prayed that he would be there when I got home or would manage to get back over to the shelter....
(When I went out there a bit ago when I got home, all 3 were in the shelter like normal... and I put them in the crate.)

I called DS and asked where my gun was and he said what gun and I said the one you took to clean and never brought back... and he said it is at my house... and I said I want it back tomorrow morning.... told him about the hawk.... and I am going to put the .410 barrel on it.... it has the .22 on it right now... He said okay, he would drop it off in the morning.

I did not see the buff hen today..... but when I went out to let them out of the crate it was earlier than usual... because first, I had PT at 7:30 this morning, then I came home and changed out of "clean clothes to work clothes" ; put the meters and hoses into the car, and then went to help with the cattle. Usually I go out to let them out of the crate, around 9-10 in the morning... and the shelter has warmed up a little...the water is thawed if it had a little ice... and the hen is in eating some feed and all....
I am hoping that I see her tomorrow...

Been a LOOOONG DAY......

I am ready to go to bed. Ate a bowl of green beans and some yogurt, and am tired and sore. PT was a little tough this morning, then all the activity and the upset with the dam@#d hawk... then work.....

Have a farm scheduled for Sat morning... nothing to set up as they have weigh jars that I can take the samples right out of... then the 500 cow herd on Tuesday aft. next week. DS is going to help since it is hard for Geneva to do evening milkings; and with the holidays coming up, and her sister is getting married in mid January, she is very very busy.
Talked to the owner sampler farm that I left the bottles for, over 6 weeks ago.... and he has just kept putting it off; I told him that since he put in a system where he has his own electronic meters and his own samplers, he could do it when he wanted and just call me...BUT... he still wants records and it has been nearly 5 months since he has tested and that is going to be A LOT of paperwork to catch up on.... and I explained that he has gone inactive after 4 months... so I have to know ahead of time so that I can call and get a reactivation code.... he had acted like he was going to do it within a couple weeks... I told him that if he wanted he could just do milk samples for BF SCC and protein and keep his own records there... since basically that is what he has been doing for the past 4 months.... I am not going to go in there every 4-5 months and spend 2-3-4 hours catching up and getting his info current.... He last tested in July I think, and then they started to tear apart and redo the parlor..... was supposed to be 2-3 months... Plus, the office sends me e-mails wanting to know the status and why I haven't tested them..... ......

I'm going to get a hot soaking shower and go to bed.....