Some Homestead Ramblings

We have actually spent a couple of nights (3 now) in our project. The daytime weather has been unusually warm for November, and the night time has been pretty nice. The Lord is good – all the time (yes, even if it wasn’t temperate), and we are thankful for pleasant evenings, especially since we have no doors or windows installed!

Everything seems to cost more than we thought, so of course we’re running out of funds. We really need to establish water and power; we really want to get up doors, windows, and heating before winter hits.

Again, wiring is done for 110 and low voltage lighting, although I also want to add low volt receptacles before drywall. Tomorrow, Mike R is going to help me with the water tank and getting water into the house. The generator is in for a tune-up and propane fittings. The propane company wants us to put in huge tanks because of our questionable road; it’s a good deal for getting a great price ($1.99 per gallon for 1^st fill vs. market price later (@$3.50)), but it’s a lot more money up front. Two free 500 gallon tanks, filled to 400 gallons, equals.... yikes! $1600! All the interior and exterior doors have been purchased, but only a few of the windows have been bought.

My commute has not been pleasant, since I’d gotten used to avoiding the freeways. My very first commute had major accidents slowing both ends of my commute. Fortunately, it’s been a conference week without students, but the travel is a planned inconvenience.

More later, Steve.

We Made It!

OK, the POD driver arrived early, so the whole time schedule got thrown into chaos.

Some of Michael's friends from CBU had helped load the 2nd POD and 26' U-Haul and unload it the night before. We still had stuff at the house! Argh, another trip for the U-Haul to get the rest of the stuff from the house. It was my plan to load the truck in the morning, unload it, and get it back to U-Haul before 2:00 PM to avoid second day charge. But then, the POD guy called and said he'd be there at 9:00 AM instead of 2:00 PM.

Sam helped me load the corral panels onto the U-Haul, then drove the pickup out to the ranch to lead the POD truck driver, and stayed to help out there. That left me alone to work on the U-Haul. Shelley had gone to Escondido to help Katie, Jonathan and Michael had spent the night with friends. After Sam left, the corral panels fell as I maneuvered the truck back into the driveway. Being the young, strong man I am (HA!), I decided that I could lift the panels one at a time back up into standing position. I actually had all but the gate up, but had to reach down too far to retrieve it, and all 13 panels started to fall again - ON ME!!! By God's grace, I was able to duck under and escape with only a few bruises instead of getting crushed. At this point, I slowed waaaaay down on the loading and waited for the younger boys and Shelley to help. We left some items I really wanted to bring, but we left around 4 PM, said goodbye to our Pedley home of five years, and hit the road for the ranch. We got everything on the U-Haul unloaded, and dropped off the truck around 7 PM.

We decided to spend that first night at a motel in Riverside so that I could go to work in Fontana the next morning. The hot shower was very, very welcomed. Hopefully, that is the last night spent in a motel! We've spent a few nights at the ranch, but this post was actually written after the next post, which I will cut and paste in a few minutes.

God is so good!

Steve

So Slow

Everyone still seems to be moving in slow motion on our move. Aaaargh! I also get the feeling that we will need more trips to get everything out of the house. We're loading a second POD, but I think we'll only get the living room, dining room, and maybe one of the bedrooms in before needing more space. I need to check to see if I can get an emergency U-Haul to finish up.

The POD didn't arrive until almost 3 PM, but we were expecting it before noon. I never even got out to the ranch today. Marian (Lazy J Ranch) picked up the horses a bit later. I'm actually feeling a bit off today, accidentally drinking more coffee than I realized, having a caffeine rush, anxiousness, then a major letdown. It is also remotely possible that I'm feeling my age a bit.

Jesse says we need to rent a jackhammer to finish the trenching. We are quickly running out of funds, I fear. Fortunately, payday is Monday, but even with that, things will be tight.

Feeling old, Steve.

I Hate Moving

Yeah, who doesn't, right? Anyway, the second POD is supposed to arrive late this morning, we're still packing, Marian (our horse trainer) is picking up Treasure and Snip (Stinky) sometime this morning, too. It's amazing, all the stuff you accumulate over the years; AND, we only moved 5 years ago, so this is newly accumulated stuff.

I'm probably gonna get in trouble for it, but I plan on taking several railroad ties and other lumber to cut up and make steps up to Communication Rock, as we have been calling it. Portions of the path are a bit steep and slippery. Horse stuff, planters, outdoor furniture, exercise equipment, round pen, metal poles, large barbecue, composters, storage lockers, and canopies need to be moved - and that's just outside stuff that's not already been moved!

Most of the garage stuff is already in storage POD #1, but there's still more to go. We also have to load up all the living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture, paintings, clothes, bathrooms, kitchen, rugs, and school room stuff.

I need to call all the utilities, creditors, subscriptions, family, and friends on our  new address. Oops, DMV too. The US Postal Service website did not recognize my new address, so I altered it to the address used on the mailbox by previous occupants. I need to go by the new post office to confirm that mail gets forwarded to the right place.

So far, Shelley and I have been getting along OK without biting each other's head off, but it is real stressful right now. Pray for us. Our old saying, "Divorce Never, Murder Maybe" still holds true, so if you find me dead, you'll know who did it! (This is kinda stupid to write in a blog, since Shelley will see this and comment!) HAHA honey.

Yikes, Steve

More Work

Well moving day is Monday ready or not. This house is almost packed and ready to go.  At the the homestead work is progressing nicely. The house is wired and lights installed. Best of all the generator has been moved to the garage and IT WORKS.  (Sorry for doubting you dear.) Trenches are dug, Water Storage container is on the property. Bruce McG the well guy will be there tomorrow afternoonish and hopefully get the well working.

Shelley (found and posted by Steve)

Moving On Up (or other prepositions)

Finally, I have a chance to sit down and write a bit. We have to move out of Pedley over the next three days, and it has been a little hectic. So, here's an update on the last week:

Electricity: The wiring was almost finished with both 110 and 12 (battery low voltage), but while drywall is still off, we decided to add TV and speaker wire throughout. Jesse should finish by Monday. We rented a trencher to dig from the side of the garage to the house junction box late Thursday afternoon, and finished yesterday.

Generator: (Also electricity, but a separate paragraph). We managed to get the Onan gas generator pulled from the old Winnebago after cutting some bolts and an exhaust pipe. It was then maneuvered into the garage. Guess what - it actually started!! (Angels sing in resounding chorus - Hallelujah!) It is pretty loud, so I need to get a car guy up (or take it to him) to tune it. We need to put the muffler/exhaust back on and vent it out towards the back. Also, I've got to build walls in to insulate the sound. Oh yeah, I also need to get power storage  batteries (truck 12 volt to start, paired 6 volts later for longer storage.) (I know, waaay too many alsos and oh yeahs, one more thing. ROFL)

Water: I had a water tank guy come out and drop off a 2500 gallon water storage tank. It's a big, green cylinder that still needs to be rolled up to it the pad. Interesting, Sam is from Iraq, served in British intelligence, speaks 9 languages, a very typical pronounced accent, and promises me the absolutely best deal, ever! He said he grew up Iraqi Catholic, but loves attending Shadow Mountain (recently joined Southern Baptists) in El Cajon, David Jeremiah, pastor. He delivered the tank in his pickup truck, bed bowed by the multiple ratcheted tightenings, and paint job ruined from scratches and ratchet buckles.
Bruce McG. (well guy) may be out later today to show me how to set up the tank and fittings, and update me on the well.

More is happening, but I'll go ahead and post this; maybe i can get more later today.

Steve

A Day at the Ranch

Michelob and Corona bottle caps, cigarette butts, wire coat hanger, shot gun shells, broken windows, dry wall crumbs, paper clip, rocks bricks and weeds, baby bottle, dead basket ball, faded t-shirt, and 6 feet of smashed plastic pipe==guess what I did this morning? Raked the front yard of the ranch! Yes it was fun, it was a beautiful day to be outside. Shelley.

I was at the ranch, too. Bruce McG., the well guy came with his crane well truck; we lowered heavier pipe into the well and got a picture using the camera's zoom. It now appears that the previous well head was broken off and dropped to the bottom of the well. The picture shows a pipe and maybe some wire. We need to contrive a way to grab the pipe and lift perhaps 250 feet of it and a 4" pump on the bottom.

Jesse brought his Dad and framed the master bath and walk-in closet, and we started some more drywall demolition in the kitchen. We also worked on getting the generator out of the motor home and working. Wow, it's heavy! Ha, we'll get it out tomorrow. BTW, I've got a good name for the ranch, maybe. Bryn in Irish means hill, so why not name our ranch Bryn Flynn? I dunno, maybe too much rhyming. Steve.