Monday, October 28, 2019

Hello Darkness My Old Friend . . .



Remember it is never the grunts but those behind them that run them that run the show. So here is to the folks who answer the phones , walk the lines and keep things running as smoothly as a large electrical company can. And they can’t ever be held responsible for what happens in the back room.

But whining and tossing around opinions aren’t going to change what it is. But let me give it a go. If you run a public utility company your top priority should be keeping your equipment up to snuff and not I repeat NOT awarding massive bonuses to the upper crust . You don’t avoid legitimate responsibilities like being sure your equipment is in good working order and then passing that responsibility down to the ones who really write your bonuses and paychecks the public.

Let us look at it this way. If my truck has faulty brakes and because I put repairing them on hold when I can’t stop and plow into a group of people I will be held accountable for operating faulty equipment and I will reap the ramifications of such. Apparently this is not the case if one is a multimillion bizillon corporation.

So here I sit lap littered with cats dogs at my feet. Munching my toffee chocolate bar and sipping red wine by lantern light.


I have added water to the stock  tank from two gallon containers I picked up at the market today. I have feed everyone and had an inprov shower. Spent the day today with a dear friend with lunch out and some thrift store shopping and a quilt store visit on the valley floor.
I knew what I could potentially be set up for when I came off my mountain and back on the grid. I was hoping for the grace of one winter to get the water holding tank and generator in place. But greed allows no luxuries except for those who create it. So until I can do my homework and get the numbers crunched we will be as prepared as possible. By the by the first warning was sent by text at 7:05 AM. The lights went out and at 2PM same day. I am assuming that PGE thinks those in the blackout areas are established and have the game plan done. Sorry PGE I am still just working on a balance of normal after the last landslide year of crazy.



Living room by lantern light. 

Friday, October 18, 2019

Doesn’t Look Like Much But Stick Around Until The End



Doesn’t look like much.  However great things often begin with a patch of bare dirt and two  pieces of wood. Day 1. 






Digging holes always a good sign. Means business is getting done. Four holes were dug.  The constitution crew consists of Jessica and Nash.

Jessica and I have been friends for 22 of her 24 years. Her family and I became friends when they answered an ad I placed to sell some Nubians. Nash will become family on November 8th. When he and Jess tie the knot. She is the youngest of three sisters.





                                                           
Floor joist going in place.


                       


Well mercy be! Do I see the beginning of  two walls?  And is that a floor I spy in place??


Moving right along all walls and the roof in place . Inside Jess is putting  in  the railing to keep the eggs from rolling out of the laying boxes. 





Wow window trim and access to the egg boxes from the outside. Windows are covered with hardware cloth for extra safety from predators. '




 Front prior to framing with white boards but hardware cloth in place. 



And afterwards with chicken door lower right .


 Close up of chicken door while open.


The temporary coop run is the old 10X10 foot dog kennel they had in an empty stall of the "mare" motel. May make it permanent by adding another four panels and roof. Or may go with 5 foot no climb and roof. At any rate the permanent fencing won't be in until after the wedding. 


Flock minus two slackers enjoying the roost on the first night in.  





Monday, October 14, 2019

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors When You Can Get One Built.



Moving is always a chore. No matter if you are moving from a tiny house to a ranch or to a smaller space from a larger one. If you bring goldfish or Angus it will present challenges that nothing else does.

Moving from Ash Creek property in Shasta county comprised of 40 acres totally relying on totally  solar to the new farm on 3.64 acres back on the grid was no exception. Bringing livestock with me (goats, chickens, dogs and cats) presented its own set of issues. First was all the fencing needed to be replaced as it was either not Pyrenees, goat or Border Collie strong. It was old for the most part some I swear us from the time the pioneers came through. Much of one stretch is almost none existent let alone sufficient.  I cannot lie both the street side and the common fence between my property and my closest neighbor was ok. But there is more to the story on that.

So when I had to move in a "greyhound" fashion I had to plan for keeping everyone safe and healthy as I knew the fencing would take awhile. That involved improvising with corral panels left to me on the property. The previous owner had horses so to make them work for goats and Pyrs each one we used had to be reinforced with a 16' ft long 5 ft tall cattle panel. Corral panels are usually 10 - 12 feet long and are a pipe construction making them stand alone when linked to each other . Cattle panels cannot stand alone and need support from either T post or being attached to another panel such as corral panels. The photo below shows part of the area we did to give the dogs and goats a reasonable space in addition to the custom build "mare motel" that came with the property. But only temporary. 



Like all well planned parades something always goes sideways and this theory proved to be no exception. I couldn't find anyone to start the fencing prior to my taking possession of the property. In our first move to Mendocino county we were able to do so with a hold harmless clause but no one in our new area was willing to jump into that potential snake pit. I can't say I blame them as litigation has just about become a spectator sport in last 25 or so years. Then I found as I called company after company that apparently a large part of this central California foothill community had fencing done this year. So the wait time was a unheard of 3 - 5 months. With the stress of moving plus into spaces smaller then usual this wasn't acceptable.

So I continued on my search and found a seasoned fence guy but with one draw back . His real job is with Cal Fire. I was content to go with him even knowing the process may be slower but a better shot than the options. That was until the fire opps. Although he has been able to do several equipment drops the "real" job totally took him away beginning October 6th to the fire lines of the Briceburg Fire . https://fire.ca.gov/incidents/2019/10/6/briceburg-fire/

At this point my anticipated finish date of end of November for all the livestock fencing is realistically now the end of December. The critters are doing well even though our day to day routine is limited. With the bad western fence none of the dogs can leave the barn / pen area without being on lead. The house dogs haven't left the house without the same restriction.  The last thing we need is search and rescue on any of them. Do I trust them yes with some hesitation on the house dogs as we have too many cottontails and squirrels to make it a very tempting opportunity. So everyone gets at least one walk about a day . The house dogs have a 10 x 20  ft kennel they can use to be off lead outside and since they love me so much they like to be where I am and they can see me from their kennel if I am out doing chores, yard work and so forth.


For now we will patiently wait and continue on as best we can manage. Knowing this is not forever makes it easier and in a few months it will all be a distant memory.

Stay tuned. I am hoping to churn out a post today or in a few with the debut  of  the best kept secret of the month "Do my neighbors have coop envy?"



Friday, October 4, 2019

It Is a DIY Kind Of Day 😊


Solution. What a country girl does when a permanent solution hasn’t materialized yet. 
Clothesline 1A


First hard cheese in years. Cheddar goat milk of course courtesy
Of Miss Willa
  

In the Rickki Carrol of New England cheesemaking recipe book 
this one is titled “Heavenly Ricotta Cheese “ aka whey Ricotta. Although the book name is pretty accurate as it is amazing and pretty much a whole different offerings than the traditional Whole Milk
Ricotta.


Sisters . Well not by litter lol. Just by association


Part of my bounty from last Wednesday farmers market. Beets, French radishes new crop not spiced up from heat, a cute squash, one Bok Choy and about half  pound  of the most succulent tasty green beans since our last garden.