Fixing the Exhaust Leak

  My four wheeler has had an exhaust leak for quite some time now and just in the last several weeks it has gotten progressively worse. So not having anything else to do I went and moved the four wheeler into the garage so I could take the exhaust off of it and fix the problem.

  So having moved it into the garage I went and took that white piece of plastic off so that I could work on it a little bit better.

  So as you can tell it obviously has had an exhaust leak for some time because everything is coated in oil. So I went and got the tools I needed and started working on it.

  After getting all the tools I needed I went and took the exhaust pipe off and started cleaning it.

  So as you can tell even the exhaust pipe had oil on it so I got out the good old brake cleaner and several rags and cleaned it all off. The engine block was also ridiculously dirty.

  So I cleaned it off the best I could and then went and put the new seal into the exhaust pipe and tightened it back on.

                          

  So with it all done I started it and looked to see if it sealed up properly. It did and was much, much more quite then before. 

  Well once again a job well done and that's all for this one and I'll catch you on the next one.

Making the Tool Table Wrench Friendly

  Well I'm back with a new project. I was given a little roll around tool table several years ago and it just sat around accumulating odds and ends and was basically used for the storage shelves.
  I am constantly working on new projects in the garage and I got tired of having to put tools on the floor while I was working so I decided that I was going to clean the table off and turn it into the ultimate tool table. I didn't do everything I wanted to do to it but its a start.



  So as you can tell it is just the ordinary table with an annoying old fashioned electrical outlet that no longer works and every time you move the table the cord gets stuck so before I did anything else I went and took it off.
  After taking the outlet off I went and measured and cut out a 11x1/2 inch piece of metal and then proceeded to carefully weld eleven nails to that piece of metal.

   Having welded the nails securely in place I went and cleaned it up and then bolted it to the table.

 

  Having bolted it to the table I looked at it and asked myself what's missing? After several seconds of thought I came up with the solution.

 

  Aha what we need is wrenches! So I went and found myself a small set of wrenches and put the wrench holder to the test.

  Well I am quite happy with how this little project turned out and I'm sure you will spot it in many other projects to come.

  Well that's all for this one and I'll catch you on the next.



Back Yard Cleanup

  Well for some time I have been wanting to get the back yard cleaned up. And since today was a beautiful forty-five degree December day I figured it would be the perfect time to get the job done.

 

     

                                                                   The culprit.

 

  Having surveyed the eyesore It's time to go get the team together that will be used to clean this dismal back yard.

 

                                                                    "The Team"

  With the team together it is now time to go and see what we can do to reduce the amount of organic debris that is laying on the ground.

 

  But first let's remove this pile of wood that would be sure to hinder progress in this little patch.

                           But wait what can we use to transport this small pile of fire wood?

 

Bingo!

 

  With that problem solved I incurred yet another intruder to the yard, a mole hole, although it did not slow down progress I will have to fix it later on.

 

Walnut trees are so messy and don't have any respect for the effort I put into keeping the back yard clean. Just look at the mess!

 

  By now I have completely raked everything into five different piles.

Plus this one.

 

Having everything raked up I collect the debris and relocate it to a place where it can rot up naturally with out causing an eyesore.

 

  Now with everything gone lets survey the back yard again.

 

All together I would say it looks a little better than what it before.

Well that's it for this one and I'll catch you on the next one.



Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Are the leaves turning color where you live? Have they begun to fall? Will you have to rake when it's all said and done? Is that a chore you love or loathe?

Yes, our leaves are turning color, and in most cases the maple trees have lost almost half of their leaves. As I have said in an earlier post I like raking.

2. When did you last shake like a leaf?

The last time I shook like a leaf was when I had to do some public speaking. I thought I was ready for it, but several minutes in my nerves hit. Thankfully as I continued they settled down and I was able to complete without running off stage.

3. After 20 seasons with the NY Yankees, Derek Jeter played his last official game Sunday afternoon. Jeter has been described even by opponents as a 'class act', both on and off the field. The NFL is back in action this month too, with several players in that sport also making headlines. What are your thoughts on athletes as role models? Should a professional athlete be expected to act as role model or is that going beyond their job description? What responsibility do the organizations these athletes work for have when it comes to dealing with off the field behavior? Discuss.

Yes, I think that athletes should act like role models because they have a very big influence on other people. With that said, it doesn't mean that they can't still enjoy a normal life.

4. What season of the year is toughest for you in terms of your health? Why?

That's a tough one because I rarely ever get sick, but usually the toughest season of the year for me would be flu season because of the other sick people.

5. The top six healthy food trends of 2014 according to Eating Well are-

clean eating (more veg, less meat, less sodium, limit alcohol and processed foods)
trash fish (you know those fish that get caught in fishermen nets and are thrown back? It seems chefs are finding creative ways to make them more appetizing)
cauliflower (this year's IT vegetable)
kaniwa (essentially baby quinoa, so like quinoa only smaller)
fermentation (think pickling except with twists on flavor we're not accustomed to)
community supported food (farms operating with community support/membership).

Okay-so how many of the hot healthy food trends for 2014 have you experienced, encountered, enjoyed? Any you've tried and said ewwww? Any on the list you'd like to try before year's end?

I have already eaten cauliflower, my mom went and fried it in a cast iron skillet until it was golden brown. Delicious! On some occasions we also steam it, also very good. I'm fine not eating any of the others and I haven't said ewwww to any of them.

6. In seven words or less, bid September adieu.

You have been a good month. (fake tear) You have had your highs and lows. (temperature wise) And I bid ye farewell.

7. What's something on your October calendar that makes you happy just thinking about it?

Something on the October calendar that makes me happy just thinking about it would have to be the Saturdays and Sundays because they serve as a school break.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'm not the biggest fan of the cold weather that is just around the corner, but I feel especially sorry for my little dog. He's getting old and you can tell weather bothers him a lot more than it used to.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It's fall. Y'all. My favorite season of the year! What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel it's officially fall? And unrelated to that, do you ever say-'y'all'?

Interestingly enough raking leaves makes me feel like fall is officially here.

No I don't say 'y'all.

2. When did you last have a falling out with someone? Has it been resolved?

 I have never had a falling out with someone, and I hope to never have.

3. A song you love with the word 'fall' in it's title?

The Boys of Fall by Kenny Chesney




4. What's something you've recently let 'fall by the wayside?'

Something that I have recently let fall by the way side is yard work, it seems there are not enough hours in a day to keep up with the constant falling leaves.

5. When did you last attend an event, read a book, watch a movie, try a new recipe, or visit a shop-town-tourist attraction that fell short of your expectations? In what way?

Not to long ago my dad and I went to a local railroad museum, we had heard how great it is and how so many people love it, well when we walked in our expectations where dashed there was nothing more than a few model railroads a small bell and a few old pictures.

6. Describe a time you said or thought, 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

I know perfectly well what the saying means, but a while ago I was up on a hill behind our house picking apples when I happened to drop one it started rolling faster and faster It finally stopped rolling but it was too late it was bruised beyond edibility, so I guess you can say, in some cases, the apple does fall far from the tree.

7. Was today better than yesterday? Why or why not?

Today is not better than yesterday as it takes me closer to winter.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

To all my readers I'm sorry that I did not write a post in the last few weeks. I'll try to do better.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. "Summer is like childhood. It's full of warm memories and gone too soon."~Kellie Elmore  Agree or disagree? Share something you loved about the summers of your childhood.

    I agree.
    One of my best memories would be having my friend come over and we would go to our favorite fishing hole and spend our day fishing and swimming.

2. Are you a fan of auto racing-NASCAR, Indy, Stock, Grand Prix, etc? Ever been to a race in person? Any desire to do this?  Do you know a lot about cars? Do you notice particular makes and models when you're out and about?

    I guess you couldn't call me a big fan of racing, but if there is nothing else to do I don't mind watching it.
    No I have never been to any race, and I don't have a desire to actually attend one.
    I don't know a lot about cars but since my dad is a truck mechanic I have a general idea of how they work.
    Yes, Ford is especially appealing to me. 

3. What's something you think is too serious to be joked about? Or do you think anything and everything is fair game?

    I think something that is to serious to be joked about, is God.

4. July 29th is National Lasagna Day. Are you a fan? Do you have a great recipe, and if so where did it come from? If given a choice would you choose a plate of lasagna or a plate of spaghetti?

    Yes I am a huge fan, especially if it's my mom's famous lasagna.
    No I don't have a recipe, and if given the choice I would always choose lasagna over spaghetti.

5. What's a simple pleasure you'd miss if it were not a regular part of your life?

    Drinking water from our own spring would be something that I'd miss.

6. If you could be the CEO of any company, which would you choose?

    I would choose Duck Commander.

7. August is just around the bend...bid farewell to July in exactly seven words.

    Until next year. Been good knowing you.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am starting school in two weeks. I intend to make this year the best school year of my life.

Filling Silo

    About one month ago I helped the landlord fill silo. First we had to mow the fields, and let the hay dry anywhere from an hour too a full day.  He let me drive the tractor that was hooked to the mower which really excited me since this was only the second time in my life that he let me mow.  He would stand on the step with the door open to the cab of the tractor just in case I needed help, and gave me instructions and tips on how to do a good job mowing. It took us about five hours of mowing before we got done with what he had wanted to mow for the day, and then we drove back to the barn and unhooked the mower. He then went and hooked up the tractor to the blower* and shut it off.

He told the helpers that had showed up earlier, that they would drive the tractors hooked to the silage wagons,* and I would operate the tractor hooked to the blower, and he would drive the tractor hooked to the chopper* and silage wagon. With that he jumped into his tractor started it and drove down the road to one of his fields. While he was doing that the helpers both started their tractors and followed him to the field. While they were gone I ran and started the tractor hooked to the blower and sat there and waited until one of them came back. After ten minutes of waiting the first load showed up, the helper skillfully navigated the tractor and wagon beside the blower. As soon as he stopped I jumped out of the tractor and ran to lowered the silage conveyor and then ran back into my tractor and slowly engaged the power take off* and  revved up the engine. While I was doing that the helper went and started unloading the wagon into the blower. We repeated that process for about a week before the silo was full.







*The blower blows finely chopped hay called haylage up a pipe along side the silo to which will connect at the top of the silo thus wise filling the silo.

*A silage wagon is a wagon that carries haylage. The side of the wagon has a door called an unloader with a conveyer that you have to lower. The conveyer runs the width of the wagon. there is also a conveyer that runs the length of the wagon it pushes the haylage up to the unloader.

*The chopper is a vicious machine that can kill if a person is pulled in. It has a rake called a head that pulls in the hay and finely chops the hay up. It than blows it out a chute into the wagon behind it.

*A power take off, is a shaft that sticks out the back of a tractor. In the case up above it was connected to a shaft the turned a large fan in side the blower.