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Ridgetop
Herd Master
Left heat on in house turned to 65 degrees. I will call Larry.
Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along
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Ridgetop
Herd Master
Called Larry and he said that he and Vicky had been talking about that very thing. He was planning to call me tonight. Said he would go by, turn off water and leave a tap open in house. Such a nice guy. He said there are 3 winter cold fronts coming through next week. Temperatures are supposed to go down to 15 degrees all week!
Rethinking first thing to do at new place. Better see about getting an electric generator installed asap. We have a fireplace with a hob that folds out to set pans on to warm water etc., wool blankets and down covers, but entire house is electric so won't be able to cook unless we get a propane camp stove. I wasn't planning to bring the old wood cookstove back yet. Also don't have any cut firewood to burn. Anyway, I suppose that will give us a reason to unload and leave asap. Only worry will be traveling in the freezing weather with snow and ice. DS1 and I are supposed to leave around the 16th or 17th. Thank heavens I have flannel lined jeans and thermals in Texas. Also heavy boots. I think we may have to stop earlier in the evening before there is any black ice on the roads. Will definitely be driving the southern route but even that way is supposed to geticy weather weather.
DH reserved the U-Haul trailer for the furniture today. We will pull it out and back again since that will save us almost $900! Dropping it in Texas would cost $1200.00. Pulling it both ways is only $300.00 for 10 days use. Worth it to protect the wooden furniture.
It has been really cold here - maybe 50 degrees with a strong north wind. Looks nice outside with the sun shining but go out in the wind and you have to go right back in the house to grab a heavy coat. The grandkids bought me some nice soft yarn for Christmas, and I will make them some scarves with it. They liked that idea. I might make the scarves long and then turn up the ends to make pockets for their hands.
One of my jars of broth did not seal so I thickened it for gravy to go over some ravioli for dinner. It has a good flavor. I brought 36 quart jars back from Texas and thought I had more quart jars here, but I have now canned 36 quarts of assorted meat and broth and only have 3 empty quarts left. They are all packed ready to go to Texas. Luckily, I think I have finished canning any meat for a while. I guess I have to bring a few more jars back just in case I fund any more meat in the freezers. LOL I looked up how to can nuts. You can do walnuts and pecans in the oven at 225 degrees for 45 minutes. I thought that was interesting. I have about 15-20 lbs. of different nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts) in the freezer that I need to remove for the trip back. I will just pack them in a plastic box and they can go back in the freezer there. Removing them will also help empty the freezers. I think I have some bags of chocolate chips in the freezer too. Not gonna can them!
They can go in the plastic boxes with the nuts. I might experiment with canning the nuts, but not now. I also have a bottle of the stuff you are supposed to dip fresh eggs in to coat them. Then you bury them in sand in a bucket and put it in the cellar. They are supposed to stay fresh for 6 months! Was going to try it with the 4-H kids as an experiment, but never did.
Played bridge today, then went to reserve the trailer, pick up DS2's truck from the shop, came home and made dinner. Now too dark to go into the shed for more boxes to pack stuff in the office. Tomorrow morning will do. I can carry the stuff from the shelves to the living room and stack it ready to pack. Lots of photo albums. I need to pass out the 4-H record books to the kids. They are wonderful memory books since not only do they have photos of the kids at progressive ages doing all their animal, Fair, and 4-H activities, but their earliest stories and records are all in childish handwriting.
In case of emergency those record books were in one spot and everyone knew to grab them first!
Once we are in Texas I need to buy a gun safe. DS3 told me what to get. There are several heavy duty brands with the back and sides reinforced and installed bolted into the floor. Our subfloors are concrete and DS3 said that the safe people will install it into the concrete floor for me when they deliver it. Ours won't be as big as his - we don't have that many guns, but I want to store the ammo in it, along with our Trust docs, Wills, and Deeds. Andy (DS3) said you want one like that because if someone breaks in, they can't get to the guns by cutting through the back of the cabinet. Some cheap ones are not reinforced in the back and the bad guys can cut through the metal back to get to the guns. I don't want to buy a gun safe that can be cut open from the back! I wonder if I can build a hidden closet for it? Overkill? LOL
Maybe I will take a flashlight and go to the shed to get some boxes. I really need to keep packing.
Rethinking first thing to do at new place. Better see about getting an electric generator installed asap. We have a fireplace with a hob that folds out to set pans on to warm water etc., wool blankets and down covers, but entire house is electric so won't be able to cook unless we get a propane camp stove. I wasn't planning to bring the old wood cookstove back yet. Also don't have any cut firewood to burn. Anyway, I suppose that will give us a reason to unload and leave asap. Only worry will be traveling in the freezing weather with snow and ice. DS1 and I are supposed to leave around the 16th or 17th. Thank heavens I have flannel lined jeans and thermals in Texas. Also heavy boots. I think we may have to stop earlier in the evening before there is any black ice on the roads. Will definitely be driving the southern route but even that way is supposed to geticy weather weather. DH reserved the U-Haul trailer for the furniture today. We will pull it out and back again since that will save us almost $900! Dropping it in Texas would cost $1200.00. Pulling it both ways is only $300.00 for 10 days use. Worth it to protect the wooden furniture.
It has been really cold here - maybe 50 degrees with a strong north wind. Looks nice outside with the sun shining but go out in the wind and you have to go right back in the house to grab a heavy coat. The grandkids bought me some nice soft yarn for Christmas, and I will make them some scarves with it. They liked that idea. I might make the scarves long and then turn up the ends to make pockets for their hands.
One of my jars of broth did not seal so I thickened it for gravy to go over some ravioli for dinner. It has a good flavor. I brought 36 quart jars back from Texas and thought I had more quart jars here, but I have now canned 36 quarts of assorted meat and broth and only have 3 empty quarts left. They are all packed ready to go to Texas. Luckily, I think I have finished canning any meat for a while. I guess I have to bring a few more jars back just in case I fund any more meat in the freezers. LOL I looked up how to can nuts. You can do walnuts and pecans in the oven at 225 degrees for 45 minutes. I thought that was interesting. I have about 15-20 lbs. of different nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts) in the freezer that I need to remove for the trip back. I will just pack them in a plastic box and they can go back in the freezer there. Removing them will also help empty the freezers. I think I have some bags of chocolate chips in the freezer too. Not gonna can them!
They can go in the plastic boxes with the nuts. I might experiment with canning the nuts, but not now. I also have a bottle of the stuff you are supposed to dip fresh eggs in to coat them. Then you bury them in sand in a bucket and put it in the cellar. They are supposed to stay fresh for 6 months! Was going to try it with the 4-H kids as an experiment, but never did. Played bridge today, then went to reserve the trailer, pick up DS2's truck from the shop, came home and made dinner. Now too dark to go into the shed for more boxes to pack stuff in the office. Tomorrow morning will do. I can carry the stuff from the shelves to the living room and stack it ready to pack. Lots of photo albums. I need to pass out the 4-H record books to the kids. They are wonderful memory books since not only do they have photos of the kids at progressive ages doing all their animal, Fair, and 4-H activities, but their earliest stories and records are all in childish handwriting.
In case of emergency those record books were in one spot and everyone knew to grab them first! Once we are in Texas I need to buy a gun safe. DS3 told me what to get. There are several heavy duty brands with the back and sides reinforced and installed bolted into the floor. Our subfloors are concrete and DS3 said that the safe people will install it into the concrete floor for me when they deliver it. Ours won't be as big as his - we don't have that many guns, but I want to store the ammo in it, along with our Trust docs, Wills, and Deeds. Andy (DS3) said you want one like that because if someone breaks in, they can't get to the guns by cutting through the back of the cabinet. Some cheap ones are not reinforced in the back and the bad guys can cut through the metal back to get to the guns. I don't want to buy a gun safe that can be cut open from the back! I wonder if I can build a hidden closet for it? Overkill? LOL
Maybe I will take a flashlight and go to the shed to get some boxes. I really need to keep packing.
Baymule
Herd Master
January and February are our coldest months. Sometimes it’s a coin toss to see which one is worse.
Peggy and Bennett got a Generac, it automatically comes on when power goes off and then shuts off when power is back on. I can hear it humming along. Power outages happen.
It should be warming up by the time y’all get here. When you turn water back on, open ALL the faucets, sinks and bathtubs, to get the air out of the lines.
Just be careful and drive safe.
Peggy and Bennett got a Generac, it automatically comes on when power goes off and then shuts off when power is back on. I can hear it humming along. Power outages happen.
It should be warming up by the time y’all get here. When you turn water back on, open ALL the faucets, sinks and bathtubs, to get the air out of the lines.
Just be careful and drive safe.
Margali
Herd Master
Do you like cooking on electric? We sold the electric stove that came with house and installed a propane one first thing. We run off a tall RV bottle and it is SO much better than electric. Just a thought, a used propane stove is going to be cheaper than a generator. But doesn't help with summer power outages.
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- #3,495
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Everything in the house is electric, including the heat and AC. Also, the well although we are on city water for the house. I am planning to use the well for watering the livestock eventually. We have lost power in the winter and the summer both, so a Generac is really the best investment for us at this time. The haybarn will come next and a new well will be last. We will squeeze in the various renovations in the house along the way.
Went to the Orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he said I am in line for a partial knee replacement in the left knee. In the meantime, he gave me a cortizone shot in the knee to help with pain. Still have to sort out our medical insurance. DH's retirement plan pays for it and if we take another HMO our medical is paid for but we have had bad luck with 2 of the HMOs until we went with UCLA. Probably will have to go with a PPO which will allow us to go to UCLA although it will be pricey with co-pays. On the other hand, we will have to go with a PPO living in Texas so . . . .
We start loading the gooseneck today with fence panels, cabinets, etc. DH said they wil load the wooden cabinets in the gooseneck overhang so they are protected from the weather. The panels, feeders etc. can ride in the trailer where any rain won't bother them. DH picks up the U-Haul on Monday to load the furniture and any cardboard boxes. The plastic boxes can go in the truck bed under the tonneau cover. It leaks a little rain which runs in on the bed floor but with the plastic boxes water will not get into them. We plan to haul some alfalfa back with us if we have space. We will use it to get the sheep onto the grass hay. I sorted the Christmas tree ornaments - just have a little box to leave here for DS2! Over the years we have replaced most of our glass ornaments with photo ornaments and special ones bought to commemorate things special to the family, or trips we took. Once we get our new tree in Texas, it may be too small for all the ornaments so some may come back to California. I would take our current tree which we love, but it is too tall since the ceiling in Texas is not raised so will have to get a slightly smaller one. Most of the interior house decorations will stay here. Only taking a few of my favorites that will fit in the house.
The office shelves are empty, and I have removed them for transport. I have to remove the closet rod to get the cabinet out after unscrewing it from the wall. Big hassle but don't want to have to spend $$$ on new ones. Still have to pull out the ones from the tool shed. They are empty but need to remove the shelves and unscrew them from the wall. I am considering removing the cabinet doors for transport.
Beginning to regret this move with so much still to move but gone too far now to back out. Besides, we can leave some of the stuff here until spring and summer when we have to return for some appointments. We can pick more up then once we know how much room we have to store it, and have finished putting up the heat barrier in the shed and installing the cabinets.
Will need a cruise to recover but with loss of Loise and Don nobody to go with.
Went to the Orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he said I am in line for a partial knee replacement in the left knee. In the meantime, he gave me a cortizone shot in the knee to help with pain. Still have to sort out our medical insurance. DH's retirement plan pays for it and if we take another HMO our medical is paid for but we have had bad luck with 2 of the HMOs until we went with UCLA. Probably will have to go with a PPO which will allow us to go to UCLA although it will be pricey with co-pays. On the other hand, we will have to go with a PPO living in Texas so . . . .
We start loading the gooseneck today with fence panels, cabinets, etc. DH said they wil load the wooden cabinets in the gooseneck overhang so they are protected from the weather. The panels, feeders etc. can ride in the trailer where any rain won't bother them. DH picks up the U-Haul on Monday to load the furniture and any cardboard boxes. The plastic boxes can go in the truck bed under the tonneau cover. It leaks a little rain which runs in on the bed floor but with the plastic boxes water will not get into them. We plan to haul some alfalfa back with us if we have space. We will use it to get the sheep onto the grass hay. I sorted the Christmas tree ornaments - just have a little box to leave here for DS2! Over the years we have replaced most of our glass ornaments with photo ornaments and special ones bought to commemorate things special to the family, or trips we took. Once we get our new tree in Texas, it may be too small for all the ornaments so some may come back to California. I would take our current tree which we love, but it is too tall since the ceiling in Texas is not raised so will have to get a slightly smaller one. Most of the interior house decorations will stay here. Only taking a few of my favorites that will fit in the house.
The office shelves are empty, and I have removed them for transport. I have to remove the closet rod to get the cabinet out after unscrewing it from the wall. Big hassle but don't want to have to spend $$$ on new ones. Still have to pull out the ones from the tool shed. They are empty but need to remove the shelves and unscrew them from the wall. I am considering removing the cabinet doors for transport.
Beginning to regret this move with so much still to move but gone too far now to back out. Besides, we can leave some of the stuff here until spring and summer when we have to return for some appointments. We can pick more up then once we know how much room we have to store it, and have finished putting up the heat barrier in the shed and installing the cabinets.
Will need a cruise to recover but with loss of Loise and Don nobody to go with.
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- #3,496
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Got the tool shed cabinets loaded in the gooseneck. EXCEPT for the one I really wanted to take - the 8' cabinet that I was planning to cut shelves for and install. DS1 couldn't get it moved out of the shed. It is wedged in under the beams because the shed floor has shifted and it won't move. We did get the other 2 out of the shed. I went down early this am and unscrewed everything to get them out. I installed them all myself about 12 year ago and did a surprisingly good job - they were not easy to remove! LOL Anyway, the large white cabinet will remain in the tool shed for DS2 to use. DSIL1 arrived to help load and get the freezer up from the milk shed. I unloaded the lower freezer and DS1, DS2, and DSIL1 helped carry all the frozen food up to the laundry room. Then they got the freezer up the steps onto the patio and plugged it in. I went to the laundry room and emptied one of the freezers to make room for some of the food. I filled 2 large Styrofoam coolers (that DS2's diet food was shipped in) with frozen food and put a couple of turkeys and hams into the smaller freezer. We found 3 hams that I didn't realize were down there as well as another turkey, and lots of steaks that I bought around the end of Covid when prices on meat were skyrocketing. That stuff will go to Texas in the freezer with dry ice. DS1 and DS2 loaded the freezer into the gooseneck so I can access it from the side door to open it to remove the meat when we get to Texas. Then they put the loaded Styrofoam coolers into the freezer too and ran an extension cord to keep it plugged in. With the Styrofoam coolers in the freezer there is not enough room for the lamb so we will have to take that back next trip in coolers with dry ice. DS1 is worried about getting the freezer into the house and back into the closet in his room. That closet is about 36-42" deep and 8' long. If we can't fit it through the doors we may have to leave it on the back porch, and I will lock it and cover it with some blankets or tarps. Not ideal but the other option is to put it in the shed and run an extension cord to it. If we had electric in the barn, I would just put it there and plug it in but no power there yet. Tomorrow DH will pull the gooseneck onto the field for DS1 to load all the corral panels, about 10 bales of alfalfa, and any stuff he plans to load. He has to leave space for a dog crate and DD2's suitcases and cooler.
Found a couple meat loaves in the freezer so cooked one for dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, and fresh broccoli. Meat loaf is DS1's favorite dinner. After all the hard work today it cheered him up. So did correcting all my wrong answers in the crossword puzzles we were working. LOL
Tomorrow DH will go get the U-Haul trailer. He has to pick it up in Glendale. We will start loading it as soon as he brings it home so I will unload all the stuff from the antique ice box and our dressers. We will live out of under-the-bed storage boxes until we finally move to Yantis. Getting closer. Just in time for the next Snowmageddon!
Found a couple meat loaves in the freezer so cooked one for dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy, and fresh broccoli. Meat loaf is DS1's favorite dinner. After all the hard work today it cheered him up. So did correcting all my wrong answers in the crossword puzzles we were working. LOL
Tomorrow DH will go get the U-Haul trailer. He has to pick it up in Glendale. We will start loading it as soon as he brings it home so I will unload all the stuff from the antique ice box and our dressers. We will live out of under-the-bed storage boxes until we finally move to Yantis. Getting closer. Just in time for the next Snowmageddon!
Baymule
Herd Master
Baymule
Herd Master
This storm is nowhere like the storm in February 2021. It’s cold, and will stay below freezing several days, but get above freezing Wednesday.
Here is the 10 day forecast for Lindale.
Here is the 10 day forecast for Lindale.
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- #3,499
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Found out that our DSIL2 is stuck in Oregon heading to Washington with a load. Ice storms and excessive snow in the Pacific Northwest means he won't be back for another week or so. Freezer is in the gooseneck with extension cords running from house to trailer. Since Ozel likes to chew up hoses and cords, I went out and strung them over her head across the side yard on the metal hooks for the hummingbird feeders. Hopefully no one will choke themselves on the cords and Ozel will not figure ut that leaping and pulling them down can be great fun. 
We found out that DSIL2 was stuck on the Monday just before DH left to pick up the trailer. I went to tell him to call and cancel it until next week but he had already raced off to pick it up. DD2 has cancelled their trip since she had arranged to have this week off and couldn't change the dates. She spent today returning the stuff she bought for the trip - snow jackets and mittens for the kids. The furniture is loaded in the U-Haul. We will probably leave Thursday according to DS1. We will unload all the furniture and boxes. I will try to hire someone to help move the corral covers out of the side barn, and then when the snow and rain dry out Payton can start moving the hay bales into the side barn. I will unload the plastic boxes of clothes, hang them up in the closets so I can bring the boxes back for another load. Some of the cardboard boxes can remain packed until we come back with another trailer load.
Naturally we are moving to northeast Texas just as we head into super cold winters. DH said that we will make installation of the propane Generac a priority. I will have to remember to turn the water off again before we return to CA. Driving conditions are supposed to be bad but DH told DS1 to stop at a motel when the sun goes down since and any water/slush on the road freezes into ice after dark when the temp drops. If we drive only during daylight hours, we should be able to make it safely. Traveling during this bad weather was only planned because DSIL2 was driving back to TX and could drive the gooseneck while DH stayed home to feed and go to PT. Otherwise, we could have waited for better weather. 
It is what it is. I would wait longer to leave but DH said we only rented the U-Haul for 10 days. If we keep it longer it is only $10 more per day so while annoying it is not a financial disaster.
We found out that DSIL2 was stuck on the Monday just before DH left to pick up the trailer. I went to tell him to call and cancel it until next week but he had already raced off to pick it up.
DD2 has cancelled their trip since she had arranged to have this week off and couldn't change the dates. She spent today returning the stuff she bought for the trip - snow jackets and mittens for the kids. The furniture is loaded in the U-Haul. We will probably leave Thursday according to DS1. We will unload all the furniture and boxes. I will try to hire someone to help move the corral covers out of the side barn, and then when the snow and rain dry out Payton can start moving the hay bales into the side barn. I will unload the plastic boxes of clothes, hang them up in the closets so I can bring the boxes back for another load. Some of the cardboard boxes can remain packed until we come back with another trailer load. Naturally we are moving to northeast Texas just as we head into super cold winters.
DH said that we will make installation of the propane Generac a priority. I will have to remember to turn the water off again before we return to CA. Driving conditions are supposed to be bad but DH told DS1 to stop at a motel when the sun goes down since and any water/slush on the road freezes into ice after dark when the temp drops. If we drive only during daylight hours, we should be able to make it safely. Traveling during this bad weather was only planned because DSIL2 was driving back to TX and could drive the gooseneck while DH stayed home to feed and go to PT. Otherwise, we could have waited for better weather. It is what it is. I would wait longer to leave but DH said we only rented the U-Haul for 10 days. If we keep it longer it is only $10 more per day so while annoying it is not a financial disaster.
Baymule
Herd Master
It ought to be ok. It’s warming up and above freezing during the day.
