Pressure gauge, Banjo fitting, and Mr. One-Tooth

Tonight bought a pressure gauge from Menards that already has a garden hose adapter on it for under $7. The gauge alone is $4 so it wasn't worth fooling with fittings. Hoping I can do some pressure measurements and then put in the new pressure switch and valve on the well.

Spent lunchtime with Dale attempting to get his hydraulic lines for his tractor fixed. Luckily it had an odd "banjo" fitting so obviously we went to a welding shop where Mr. One-Tooth called to Junior (the resident expert) and went back to fooling with their broken truck. Mr. Soon-To-Be-Flathead was under the axle looking around with only a jack between he and sudden death.

Junior was going to attempt to remove the banjo fitting and put it on a new tube. Perhaps future updates will have the resullts of this fine project. But probably no more dental reports on One-Tooth.

Driveway and National Electric Code

Measured the driveway length with the new wheel. It is 165'.

Also ordered the National Electric Code Book for 2002 so perhaps I can take the test and do my own wiring legally.

Measuring wheel is here.

M is back from DesMoines. She brought my new measuring wheel from Harbor Freight that Del shopped for. Now i can measure the driveway and other landscape items up to 10,000 feet before the gauge rolls over.
It was only $25 rather than the $50-70 at menards and home depot.

Hedgehog wrangler next door

Talked to the neighbor tonight. She is a hedgehog wrangler. Besides being a not practicing vet assistant and groomer, and having a couple well behaved dogs, she raises hedgehogs.
She says Animal Planet is flying them out to hollywood this weekend so her hedgehog can do a trick for some show on Animal Planet that is on friday nights. Probably won't be shown for a few weeks. Update: I think the show is Pet Star.
She also said they are looking for an acreage to build on and have some horses.
The neighbors on the other side have supposedly moved to Arkansas for a job but she didn't know if it was permanent or temporary. It looks like they have moved a lot of stuff out though.

I must keep my eyes peeled for escaped hedgehogs I guess.

Pump up the Well get down in the Dirt

John stopped by and showed me how to recharge the underground pressure tank for the well.
Procedure is to:

• Turn off the pump.
  
• Open a valve (used the outside faucet) and let all the water out.
  
• Close faucet
  
• Pump up tank to about 25 PSI with air compressor
  
• Open faucet and repeat until nothing but air comes out.
  
• Pump up to about 25-27 PSI one last time
  
• Turn on well pump
  

This seems to have fixed the short cycling of the well pump.
Could use a new T fitting, schrader valve, and pressure switch (30 on /50 off) at some point.
Some water came out of the schrader valve but that could be condensate perhaps. Still haven't determined if it has a bladder or not and if it does is it ruptured. But seems to be working for the moment.

Finished off the evening by skipping roller hockey and scooping 4 wagon loads of sand out of the road where it has eroded from the driveway and yard.
M is in DesMoines with soon-to-be-mommy sister Ang. M is taking a class tomorrow.

New... a crosslink to my other BLOG

Added a crosslink to my other blog in the title section above.

Ennui.

Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui. Ennui.
I would type more, but I am filled with ennui.

Gehl 2600

Got to test drive an old Gehl 2600 skidloader today. Certainly would be nice to have. Could play with rock and dirt in the driveway and maybe even some snow.
It is doubtfull I will get it.

Birds and Trees

Blew some $$$ on a bird and a tree identification book.
I stink at identifying trees.
We probably have a walnut of some type and maybe an elm (amongst many others). Probably could have done as well by guessing. Oh well, maybe will try again.
We put out hummingbird and finch feeders. No hummingbirds spotted yet. Did get a visit from some chickedees and a house finch with a red head.
Mosquitos came out. I probably have west nile now.
Oh, also found 3 or 4 BIG poison ivy vines and bushes.

New Shelves and Rug

M has new shelves in her crafting room to store her goodies. Click to get a bigger pic.

The basement has a new rug to beautify and cover up the unsightly burn hole in the carpet.

Bourne Supremacy

M & I went to see the Bourne Supremacy tonight. It is the sequel to the Bourne Identity.
It was pretty good, but wasn't as good as the first one.
We have leftover high dollar popcorn.

Power Panel Pics Available

Uploaded the new (and old) power panel pictures.
New Square D 200A QO panel. Pics of inside also.
Click HERE.
Keel Electric in Marion IA did the installation.

Moto Seat installed

I put my repaired motorbike seat on my DR650 and took it for a ride last night.
I made sure to wear my helmet because my luck hasn't been running very good (see below about the burned fingers it caused).
Also replaced the vacuum hose that turns on the gas petcock after the ride so it will fail the next ride.
I suffered no ill effects from the ride.
You may now continue your day.

Truck is Fixed

As far as I can tell, my truck clunking is fixed. A shock absorber and bushing was replaced in the front end.
Of course, it still is not a diesel 3500 like Dale got to test drive today, but it will have to do.

Square D box installed

We have power. Don't know when they got done, but we have a new QO panel.
Haven't pulled the cover to look inside.
But everything appears to work.
We even have some spaces free.
Hooray.

Build your own parts online.

Use their free software and design your own mechanical part and they will build it for you....
for a price.
http://www.emachineshop.com/

Cool stickmen that are very busy

Go here: http://j-walkblog.com/blog/docs/platform.htm

New circuit panel today

There should be a new Square D panel being installed in the house as I type.
No word on progress yet.

First Roller Hockey of 2004

Tonight was the first roller hockey game for 2004. Seven guys showed up and played at Noelridge park.
Toward the end, Steve crashed with Nick and butted heads. Steve got an inch long cut on the eyebrow and was treated to stitches. Nick walked away.
Steve is all sewed up.
Still had a good time. (90 deg temps).

Freaky Animal Pictures

are here... http://www.texasreptiles.com/freaks.html

Moto seat fixed = burned hand

I type with my right hand because saving money is fun.
The suzuki seat appears to be repaired but in the process I brain farted and grabbed the hot iron with my left hand and fried my fingertips. (just a couple blisters, no major damage).
Of course I dropped the iron on the basement carpet and melted a nice hole.
So much for saving money.
Maybe I can saw off a body part repairing the carpet.

The best thing is I probably can't even ride the suzuki for a few days while my fingers grow back.
duh.... :-(

A new Square D QO panel wednesday or thursday

Sposed to get a new Square D QO circuit panel installed to replace the crappy Federal Pacific one perhaps wednesday or thursday this week.
Also thursday am to get new bushings in the GMC's front end to fix the clunking.

Curtains are installed

The curtains are installed.
Upstairs (click for bigger picture):
Downstairs (click for bigger picture):

Also got the yard mowed and burned some sticks.
Michelle's friend Betty stopped by.

G3 stops by

Came back about 10pm friday night and G3 (aka Grandpa George) had just rode in on his connie.
He was coming back from the Concourse Owners Group nationals in Pennsylvania.
He camped out in the basement and was gone before we got up saturday.
Then he headed for home then on to Colorado.


Today's tasks: curtains and mowing

test of a picture

test of a picture.



rev. A

Lunch Success & weekend

Dale got a bargain on the Delta bandsaw.
My parents should be on their way home with the JD 116.
Mowing, burning, and curtains are the plans for the weekend.

The NOM cam is still broken. Maybe someday it will come back.

Lunch Plans for Today

Go check out a band saw in Walford with Dale.

Not taking vacation this afternoon.

Welcome to me

Today is my first blog.

Oh gosh.

How exciting for you.