We got home from our trip south at about 8:30 local time. We lost one of our Akitas while we were gone. No, he did not get out and run away. He died. He was a good old age for an Akita. They do not usually get above 9 years old, and that is what he was. Somehow I feel a little
disappointed for him that he did not make it to 2011. By just 1 day. Isn't that the way It goes sometimes. We still have a female left, but she could go at any time. She is close to 11 years old, so she is already living on borrowed time. We feel our next dog should not be over 35 pounds. I would like to have a Jack Russel. I think they are smart dogs and good with kids too.
We enjoyed our visit down south. The weather was nice and the visit was too. I got to eat at the Pickle Barrel this time. I love that catfish! Many of the friends asked us if we were moving back, and a few said they had work for us if we wanted to move. But at this time the family is greatly benefited by living where we are, and we can not afford to give up those benefits at this time.
But a move back south is not forever totally ruled out. One never knows where he will land on the big Plinko board of life. I am just a Plinko chip, plinking around.
The weather is getting right for making Maple syrup. I am gimg to tap trees tomorow if I can get a chance. We need to make a lot of syrup this because last year was a bad year for us. We need about 2 gallons of syrup. Each quart of syrup takes about 10 quarts of sap to make. So as you can see, it takes a LOT of sap. But boy is it ever good!!!
We came home to about 60 degree weather. It was so slick with snow when we left there was a very real danger to driving. Now the snow is gone along with Cyrus my Akita male dog.
So it is now bed time and I have many things to do tomorow.
I am still looking for a better truck... We got a little over 25 mpg in our MPV mini van this trip, according to my last fill up. Not bad for 60-70 mph all the way home in windy conditions.
Good night from the mini Indiana farm.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Took a lil' trip
Well we had a chance to run down to Mississippi and so we took off. I am down in the big shop at the moment. I have put a wifi repeater in the shop so that they have full strength wifi in side the metal building. Now they have wifi anywhere in the shop. It pretty easy to do, once you learn how to do it. I suppose tight rope walkers, trapeze artists and pipe fitters say the same thing.
It's easy, once you learn how.
Josh and Nyle are running around in here. Phil has built a nice fire in the oil burning barrel stove. I need to but one on of these oil cans on my barrel stove and get me some used oil. It sure makes a piece of wood go a long way.
Phil started up the old Dodge Dart. I told Nyle Uncle Phil had found Lighting McQueen. When Nyle heard the car, it was dark and couldn't see it, he said, "Did he really find Lightning?!" The Dart still sounds pretty mean when cranked up in the dark.
The weather here has been coolish, but dry so far. I expect it will start raining tomorrow as the weather man has predicted. I suppose we will just have to stay inside then.
I got a call today from the lady that has my nanny goat. She had a buck Boer or is it Bohr.. Whatever, anyway the old girl is supposed to be ready to drop us some kids about April. We are going to name one of the new ones Zumi, after the one the neighbors dogs killed. I've still got to get that problem taken care of. I've had a few friends give me some ideas as to how to handle the situation. It sounded like good advice that I will take.
Well, there is supposed to be a football game on and so I think I will go watch it on Phils Big LCD TV.
It's easy, once you learn how.
Josh and Nyle are running around in here. Phil has built a nice fire in the oil burning barrel stove. I need to but one on of these oil cans on my barrel stove and get me some used oil. It sure makes a piece of wood go a long way.
Phil started up the old Dodge Dart. I told Nyle Uncle Phil had found Lighting McQueen. When Nyle heard the car, it was dark and couldn't see it, he said, "Did he really find Lightning?!" The Dart still sounds pretty mean when cranked up in the dark.
The weather here has been coolish, but dry so far. I expect it will start raining tomorrow as the weather man has predicted. I suppose we will just have to stay inside then.
I got a call today from the lady that has my nanny goat. She had a buck Boer or is it Bohr.. Whatever, anyway the old girl is supposed to be ready to drop us some kids about April. We are going to name one of the new ones Zumi, after the one the neighbors dogs killed. I've still got to get that problem taken care of. I've had a few friends give me some ideas as to how to handle the situation. It sounded like good advice that I will take.
Well, there is supposed to be a football game on and so I think I will go watch it on Phils Big LCD TV.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
IPCONFIG
I feel sorry for anyone who had to learn what the title of this page means. IPCONFIG is a DOS command that lets you see to what your computer is connected to, such as the inter net. Or in my case, what it was not connected to. A few days ago our laptops quit surfing the web. This was just about the time I started moving a bunch of my radio and computer stuff out in to the shop. We are going to lay some hard wood flooring in the loft where I had all my play toys. And besides that, Ham radio and tinkering makes a bit of noise so it made good sense to "take it outside."
So I moved my desktop and other stuff out, and that is about the time Jens laptop quit surfing the web. Hmm, I wonder why that happened, I thought. So I started trying to get it back on the net, and of course, got mine to where it would not connect wifi either. Then finally I got it to where I could not hook directly to the cable modem and surf. Yeah, I broke the Internet! Bummer.
So this lead me to spending the better parts of 4 days wrestling with this issue. but now..... I am back! How did I do it??? Well..... a bit of reading, tinkering, thinking,, a lot of frustration, 6 pots of coffee, a nervous break down, a bull dog attitude of not letting it beat me- called perseverance- and determination. I find solace in the fact that I read many many posts of others pulling there hair out trying to get there Linksys router to "talk" to Comcast. Comcast support will tell you to talk to Linksys, and Linksys will tell you it's a Comcast problem. Well actually, it is neither one....
Lightin'......
Just like lighting, this can strike you if you've got a cable connection. Here is how it works.
An ISP (Internet Service Provider aka Comcast) wants there system to connect to 1 and only 1 AP (Access Point) Comcast does not want to see a bunch of individual computers connected to there system. They dont care if you connect more than 1, but they dont want to see them. I guess it looks messy with my 5 computers connected..... So what you do is you register 1 computer with them through a Cable modem. So you hook your PC directly up to a cable modem via a LAN cat 5 cable that is connected directly to the cable line that goes outside and off to comcast land. Nothing but PC and cable modem.. got it.
But before you do this, first hold the reset button on the back of the modem for 30 seconds minimum. Let it boot up, then unplug it, then plug it back in, let it boot up, after all the lights stop flashing as if keeping time to Disco Duck, connect the pc to the modem.
And wait. Wait. Wait. Eventually it will see the modem.
Now if you have you winsock configed right, (and probably is) you should be able to connect to the net. Surf over and look at Google and Google information about why you cant WIFI comcast!!!! And you will see a lot of different posts about it, but here is the skinny..
After you connect with the Internet, this means that Comcast just "registered" your computer as it's client/customer. You are on the "inside" and a registered member of comcast land. How do they know your computer? Well each electronic device has a "finger print" number assigned to it. Yes, it's big brother. It's known as a "MAC" number. It looks something like 12:05:a5:23:df
This is not a real MAC number, I just made this one up, but that's what they look like. And your computer has it's very own, and Comcast knows it. It will let is network ONLY talk to a machine with that MAC number. ONLY ONLY ONLY!!!!! So how do you get 5 different computers on the net in the same house. You got to put up a curtain so that only Comcast sees the original "registered" MAC and your other machines work behind, and through this "curtain". Where can you buy an electronic curtain? It's in your router, if you know how to hang it. So this is what you do. After you've got one of your computers "registered with Comcast, disconnect your CAT 5 cable from the Cable modem and connect it in to a LAN port... NOW it has to be a LAN port, and not a WAN port.. LAN ports are the ones you have more of like 4 or more. The WAN we will use latter. After connecting the PC to the ROUTER LAN port, open your web browser ,,like Internet Explorer. ( I could have said I.E I.E. but that might have been confusing)
Now since you do not have your router connected to anything but your computer, the Internet will not pop up. No Google homepage.. not yet. IN the address bar of IE type this:
192.168.1.1
This will bring up your router. Another words you will be looking at the router setup menu/s of your router. It should say something about the router you own....
In the Basic Setup you need to make sure the Automatically assign DHCP or some such verbiage is checked, or selected. Automatic is nice, huh. After that look for a tab that says something like "MAC Cloning". You are going to clone your MAC! No test tubes required.
So you click on that tab and click a menu button to "Clone MAC". This is your curtain. Basically what this does is assigns your PC MAC number, to the router. Now save setting and un hook from the router. Now run a CAT 5 cable from your modem to the WAN and yes IT HAS TO GO IN TO THE WAN PORT!!!!!!!!!!! I've never used WAN until now... But there is a reason you must you use it..
So you now have a cable from the modem going in to the WAn of your router. The Modem sees the cloned MAC number it got from you "registered" PC that you connected to COMCAST a few steps back. So now Comcast sees your router that has the "registered" MAC. When you plug the modem in to the WAN port it keeps all of the LAN MAC numbers of you other PC's, on"the other side" of that electronic curtain. So now you can WIFI in to the router, as the WIFI is also on the other side of that curtain, or CAT 5 Connect to the router via a LAN port. Either way, you're on the net now. Except....... Jens laptop runs Vista..... It would not connect............??????????????
After several hours of set-reset-set. I thought.. Why not MAC clone the Vista machine and see if you can get it to WIFI the net?" Viola! It Worked!! Not only that but my PC will surf too.
So I am back on the net.
And to think, just a few days ago I din;t know hardly anything about MAC's , LAN,WAN, 30-30-30 resets and so on.
I am sooo Happy!
Ignorance is bliss
So I moved my desktop and other stuff out, and that is about the time Jens laptop quit surfing the web. Hmm, I wonder why that happened, I thought. So I started trying to get it back on the net, and of course, got mine to where it would not connect wifi either. Then finally I got it to where I could not hook directly to the cable modem and surf. Yeah, I broke the Internet! Bummer.
So this lead me to spending the better parts of 4 days wrestling with this issue. but now..... I am back! How did I do it??? Well..... a bit of reading, tinkering, thinking,, a lot of frustration, 6 pots of coffee, a nervous break down, a bull dog attitude of not letting it beat me- called perseverance- and determination. I find solace in the fact that I read many many posts of others pulling there hair out trying to get there Linksys router to "talk" to Comcast. Comcast support will tell you to talk to Linksys, and Linksys will tell you it's a Comcast problem. Well actually, it is neither one....
Lightin'......
Just like lighting, this can strike you if you've got a cable connection. Here is how it works.
An ISP (Internet Service Provider aka Comcast) wants there system to connect to 1 and only 1 AP (Access Point) Comcast does not want to see a bunch of individual computers connected to there system. They dont care if you connect more than 1, but they dont want to see them. I guess it looks messy with my 5 computers connected..... So what you do is you register 1 computer with them through a Cable modem. So you hook your PC directly up to a cable modem via a LAN cat 5 cable that is connected directly to the cable line that goes outside and off to comcast land. Nothing but PC and cable modem.. got it.
But before you do this, first hold the reset button on the back of the modem for 30 seconds minimum. Let it boot up, then unplug it, then plug it back in, let it boot up, after all the lights stop flashing as if keeping time to Disco Duck, connect the pc to the modem.
And wait. Wait. Wait. Eventually it will see the modem.
Now if you have you winsock configed right, (and probably is) you should be able to connect to the net. Surf over and look at Google and Google information about why you cant WIFI comcast!!!! And you will see a lot of different posts about it, but here is the skinny..
After you connect with the Internet, this means that Comcast just "registered" your computer as it's client/customer. You are on the "inside" and a registered member of comcast land. How do they know your computer? Well each electronic device has a "finger print" number assigned to it. Yes, it's big brother. It's known as a "MAC" number. It looks something like 12:05:a5:23:df
This is not a real MAC number, I just made this one up, but that's what they look like. And your computer has it's very own, and Comcast knows it. It will let is network ONLY talk to a machine with that MAC number. ONLY ONLY ONLY!!!!! So how do you get 5 different computers on the net in the same house. You got to put up a curtain so that only Comcast sees the original "registered" MAC and your other machines work behind, and through this "curtain". Where can you buy an electronic curtain? It's in your router, if you know how to hang it. So this is what you do. After you've got one of your computers "registered with Comcast, disconnect your CAT 5 cable from the Cable modem and connect it in to a LAN port... NOW it has to be a LAN port, and not a WAN port.. LAN ports are the ones you have more of like 4 or more. The WAN we will use latter. After connecting the PC to the ROUTER LAN port, open your web browser ,,like Internet Explorer. ( I could have said I.E I.E. but that might have been confusing)
Now since you do not have your router connected to anything but your computer, the Internet will not pop up. No Google homepage.. not yet. IN the address bar of IE type this:
192.168.1.1
This will bring up your router. Another words you will be looking at the router setup menu/s of your router. It should say something about the router you own....
In the Basic Setup you need to make sure the Automatically assign DHCP or some such verbiage is checked, or selected. Automatic is nice, huh. After that look for a tab that says something like "MAC Cloning". You are going to clone your MAC! No test tubes required.
So you click on that tab and click a menu button to "Clone MAC". This is your curtain. Basically what this does is assigns your PC MAC number, to the router. Now save setting and un hook from the router. Now run a CAT 5 cable from your modem to the WAN and yes IT HAS TO GO IN TO THE WAN PORT!!!!!!!!!!! I've never used WAN until now... But there is a reason you must you use it..
So you now have a cable from the modem going in to the WAn of your router. The Modem sees the cloned MAC number it got from you "registered" PC that you connected to COMCAST a few steps back. So now Comcast sees your router that has the "registered" MAC. When you plug the modem in to the WAN port it keeps all of the LAN MAC numbers of you other PC's, on"the other side" of that electronic curtain. So now you can WIFI in to the router, as the WIFI is also on the other side of that curtain, or CAT 5 Connect to the router via a LAN port. Either way, you're on the net now. Except....... Jens laptop runs Vista..... It would not connect............??????????????
After several hours of set-reset-set. I thought.. Why not MAC clone the Vista machine and see if you can get it to WIFI the net?" Viola! It Worked!! Not only that but my PC will surf too.
So I am back on the net.
And to think, just a few days ago I din;t know hardly anything about MAC's , LAN,WAN, 30-30-30 resets and so on.
I am sooo Happy!
Ignorance is bliss
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sick Day
Today was Sunday. I usually go to the meeting every Sunday, but not today. I felt ill and so I did not go. I did however call in and listen. Nice talk and WT lesson on respect and honor of your brothers. I liked the point how respect is how you feel on the inside towards someone, but honor is what you DO towards a person. Both are important aspects of being a Christian. I suppose you can actually honor someone without respecting them. Like a Judge for example. You might not care for the person he is, ( perhaps they live an immoral lifestyle) but the protocol dictates the he/she be shown honor, even if you do not respect them. But I don't think it is possible to respect someone and not show them honor. I'd never really thought about it before. That's what meditation is supposed to do for me I guess.
It was peaceful here this morning with everybody gone but me. Here is a pic of peaceful.
That is looking out on to the balcony from my Sunday football stadium seat in front of my T.V.Right now I am watching the Packers give the Patriots all they want to handle on the field of play. Tonight, I am a Packers fan. I am for anyone who has the chance to beat the Patriots because I am a Colts fan. As you can see we still have a lot of snow.
But it's getting the time of year to start thinking about making maple syrup, and planting seeds to transplant in to the warm earth in a few months. We may me experiencing cold weather now, but it wont last. It is time to start thinking about getting ready for the spring. This takes planning and preparation.
Jen and I really like the Brandywine tomatoes we grew last year. Some were over a full pound, and lots of them. They were also very tasty, which is unusual to get both big size with big taste. So we are planning on planting more of the same this year. I picked a seed catalog out of the trash today and Jen was looking through it. She said there is a tomato in there that is the only one to consistently beat the Brandywine in taste and size, so we are going to order some of those and test them out. I will post the results. In the meantime, go ahead and get you some Brandywine tomatoes and enjoy a great tomato in 2011.
On another note- I am trying to convert my phone vids to something that Windows Movie Maker can edit. They still make things too hard when a program will not auto convert a commonly used video format and edit it without have to first find a converter, download it, install it, learn how to use it, and it STILL NOT WORK! Phone video is 3gp type. You would think that the tech world would realize that it would be highly efficient if they would incorporate the possibility to edit 3gp video in to a commonly used video editing software. It's probably some violating of trade right for them to do it though. Lawyers complicate life. There will be no lawyers or doctors in paradise. No need for a doctor and I don't think anyone will want lawyers or tax collectors there. I would rather live by a trash collector than a tax collector. I hope we all make it there. (paradise) Just give it up after you get in, ok.....
Game update: The Pacs have a rookie QB as Mr. Rogers is out tonight with an injury. The rookie is really playing well 3rd qtr 1:05 left and down only 3 points -24-21 The GB boys are playing them tuff tonight!!! Way to go!They are just about to score in about 5 yards....
Well, I think I will watch the game.
I hope all is well with you.
73 OM es gud day to u
P.S. I figured out the Movie Maker deal I think.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Update For December 2010
Today we are iced in. We had some snow last night and then ice. The snow is a crunchy-crusty frozen mess. I got the Gravely out and scraped the drive. I had to put a concrete block on the blade to have enough weight to break the ice.
I think in my last post I said we had goats. I took the big doe to get her bred in Bloomfield, and in the mean time the neighbors dogs came over and killed all my chickens and the little male whether goat we had. I called the sheriff and made a report. I found that Indiana law says you can shoot an animal if it IS attacking your livestock. So next time I will have to take care of it I guess. I spoke with the neighbors who are letting their dogs run loose. They said they would take care of it. The dogs have been in my yard everyday since then, so.... I guess I will have to take care of it myself. I am out of options on that.
I recently obtained a laptop. I am enjoying it a lot. I can blue tooth vids and photo from my phone now. Maybe I can get more media on the blog now.
I think I will include a pc of when I went and got some hay for the goats.
I had the lil Suzu loaded. It will also haul wood too. So you see, the old truck gets a work out. When ever this one goes out..if... I can get a new one, Jen said so. :)
I loaded wood on it today and backed it up to the door here on the house so I don't have to go over the hill with a wheelbarrow and fetch wood any more.
I built an antenna for the T.V. it worked really well. It's called a "coat hanger antenna". The plans are all over the Internet. If you need a uhf antenna, then this one works really good and it's easy to build. I need to add uhf to it so I can pick up the rest of the channels.
I am in the process of moving all the ham radio gear out to the shop. We are going to use the upstairs for a bed room I think. We both have laptops now, so we don't need a computer room. Besides, I can't ham it up in here because the kids make too much noise and vica versa for me.
I try to be quiet, but I make more noise than comfortable. I seem to like to "ham" at 1:00 am too. Not conducive to a peaceful environment.
I got to go to MS school this past week. That was really nice. The C.O. mentioned a bit about Nyle from the platform, in fact, all the B'field kids. He made some very positive comments about the B'field kids during the elders school, I heard. HE really liked Nyle, but whats not to like??? He's a good boy.
Well I guess that is enough for now.
Snow and ice today. Oh well...
Monday, November 8, 2010
I aint afraid of no goats!
The title of this entry is a play on an old movie, Ghost Busters. Just in case you didn't get the meaning of this one.
Sunday Nyle and I went and picked up a couple of goats that he bought Friday. He bought an Alpine nanny and a little whether pygmy buck. I talked to him after he bought the little whether and explained how he was for eating. I asked him how he felt about that. HE said that it was ok. Well the next day I was talking to him again about it. "How do you think we should eat the smaller goat?" "What do you mean?" Nyle says. "I mean do you think we should make sausage or pork chops or maybe hamburger out of him?" With a a look of disgust he replied, "No! That baby goat is not to eat, he is for eating!" I then realized we had a failure to communicate. He was thinking that I had meant that the pygmy was going to be doing the eating-of grass I suppose. His idea is for the goat to eat the grass,not us eat the goat. So, I guess this one is safe, for now. The nanny is really sweet. She came and met Owen and seems to already love Nyle. I want to get the nanny breed so that we can have some milk and make cheese and butter etc. I've got a auto milker I want to make. It is called the "Henry Milker". I've got a small electric vacuum pump which will make it even better. I need a couple of coffee cans and some little hand valves and a mason jar with some hose nipple adapter put on the lid. I also need a bulb type turkey baster to use as the teat attachment. If you are really that interested you could Google " Henry Milker".
Some people might question the sanity in buying a couple of goats. I've been told they are nothing but trouble, and pretty useless. But I think I will get a lot of training and education out of them for the boys. Nyle is getting to be the age for a more detailed explanation of the birds and the bees. What better way than goat breeding to explain all of that? We will get to experience the miracle of birth when we have out first kids too. We will raise some for meat, and some for milk, and clean up some of the more un mowable parts of the 5 acre farm here.. I just want to make sure I keep them out of our black berry bushes. So I've been doing some research on electric fences. I like the one where they take an old car coil and make a 10-20kv charger. I want the fence to knock a goat down if they get in to the wire. A goat is renowned for being able to take an electric fence. They are hard headed beasts. Look up "Goat licks electric fence" on youtube and you will see what I mean.
I want to build a fence that if a goat licks it, he will be knocked for a loop. I have a small charger that I could use until I get the grass burner built. I also would like to keep dogs and other animals away from my goats. A electric fence can do that.
I am also thinking about getting a couple more chickens. I kind of miss the home fresh eggs. Especially since that just recalled about a billion due to eolci in them and folks getting sick and dying from eating store bought eggs. WHAT ARE THEY FEEDING CHICKENS?! If I could let them Free range, it would be great. But the neighbors dogs kill them in no time when they get out.. I wish I lived on a more secluded acreage. Maybe we could sell this place and buy land a littler further in the country.Our taxes would be lower. Geesh, our taxes are too high here. They run about $2,200 a year! And this place is not worth at most $140,000. I would sell if I could get 124K, and move. We found 18 acres with 2 houses, a pond and an outbuilding for 124K. The taxes on that place is only $300 a year.Yes, it is in the same state and county as my current house. Yes, there IS something wrong! I can't sell this place because the taxes are so high. No one wants to buy it, so I am stuck until I figure out how to escape, like the Brown Hornet.
Well that is enough for now.
Keep warm and well fed.
Sunday Nyle and I went and picked up a couple of goats that he bought Friday. He bought an Alpine nanny and a little whether pygmy buck. I talked to him after he bought the little whether and explained how he was for eating. I asked him how he felt about that. HE said that it was ok. Well the next day I was talking to him again about it. "How do you think we should eat the smaller goat?" "What do you mean?" Nyle says. "I mean do you think we should make sausage or pork chops or maybe hamburger out of him?" With a a look of disgust he replied, "No! That baby goat is not to eat, he is for eating!" I then realized we had a failure to communicate. He was thinking that I had meant that the pygmy was going to be doing the eating-of grass I suppose. His idea is for the goat to eat the grass,not us eat the goat. So, I guess this one is safe, for now. The nanny is really sweet. She came and met Owen and seems to already love Nyle. I want to get the nanny breed so that we can have some milk and make cheese and butter etc. I've got a auto milker I want to make. It is called the "Henry Milker". I've got a small electric vacuum pump which will make it even better. I need a couple of coffee cans and some little hand valves and a mason jar with some hose nipple adapter put on the lid. I also need a bulb type turkey baster to use as the teat attachment. If you are really that interested you could Google " Henry Milker".
Some people might question the sanity in buying a couple of goats. I've been told they are nothing but trouble, and pretty useless. But I think I will get a lot of training and education out of them for the boys. Nyle is getting to be the age for a more detailed explanation of the birds and the bees. What better way than goat breeding to explain all of that? We will get to experience the miracle of birth when we have out first kids too. We will raise some for meat, and some for milk, and clean up some of the more un mowable parts of the 5 acre farm here.. I just want to make sure I keep them out of our black berry bushes. So I've been doing some research on electric fences. I like the one where they take an old car coil and make a 10-20kv charger. I want the fence to knock a goat down if they get in to the wire. A goat is renowned for being able to take an electric fence. They are hard headed beasts. Look up "Goat licks electric fence" on youtube and you will see what I mean.
I want to build a fence that if a goat licks it, he will be knocked for a loop. I have a small charger that I could use until I get the grass burner built. I also would like to keep dogs and other animals away from my goats. A electric fence can do that.
I am also thinking about getting a couple more chickens. I kind of miss the home fresh eggs. Especially since that just recalled about a billion due to eolci in them and folks getting sick and dying from eating store bought eggs. WHAT ARE THEY FEEDING CHICKENS?! If I could let them Free range, it would be great. But the neighbors dogs kill them in no time when they get out.. I wish I lived on a more secluded acreage. Maybe we could sell this place and buy land a littler further in the country.Our taxes would be lower. Geesh, our taxes are too high here. They run about $2,200 a year! And this place is not worth at most $140,000. I would sell if I could get 124K, and move. We found 18 acres with 2 houses, a pond and an outbuilding for 124K. The taxes on that place is only $300 a year.Yes, it is in the same state and county as my current house. Yes, there IS something wrong! I can't sell this place because the taxes are so high. No one wants to buy it, so I am stuck until I figure out how to escape, like the Brown Hornet.
Well that is enough for now.
Keep warm and well fed.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Splitter
Well, I've been working on my spliter, and I finaly got it going! YEAH! This splitter is no quiter!
That's the way to get it done.
That's the way to get it done.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wind it up!
I've got a few vids for the record. Nyle and I went to a tractor pull a few nights ago. Talk about wind it up! Listen to these Farmalls scream! Made me want to get on the backside of the bleachers!
Nyle also had something wind up on him this week. I thought this was funny, and cute too. Check him out as he does the "Snake Charmer Dance".
I wanted to get these up for the record.
Nyle is doing great!
Nyle also had something wind up on him this week. I thought this was funny, and cute too. Check him out as he does the "Snake Charmer Dance".
I wanted to get these up for the record.
Nyle is doing great!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Owen gets tooo excited!
Ok, this may not be too funny to some folks, but Nyle and I laugh every time we watch this. Please keep in mind Owen was not at all seriously hurt when this happened.
My kids are always doing some funny thing. They are so talented. Nyle is now a singer,composer and dancer. Here he is performing his new song "Booty Dance"
The weather has turned off nice. I may take my $20.00 canoe out for a paddle, now that I have it patched. I have already tested it and it had one small leak, that I think I have fixed now. Here is some footage of my canoe when I got it.
Well that's about it for this update. See you on the radio.
My kids are always doing some funny thing. They are so talented. Nyle is now a singer,composer and dancer. Here he is performing his new song "Booty Dance"
The weather has turned off nice. I may take my $20.00 canoe out for a paddle, now that I have it patched. I have already tested it and it had one small leak, that I think I have fixed now. Here is some footage of my canoe when I got it.
Well that's about it for this update. See you on the radio.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Smokin' tomorow
I have been asked to fix some BBQ for the Pioneer School this year. Tomorrow is when I will lite the firs and start the process. Wednesday a group of us will go to Evansville and feed the group. It's all so very exciting. I hope they like the food. We are to fix enough for 60, though there will not be any where near 60 there. We want to fix some extra so the he friends a=can take some home in the evening and have some for supper. There should be about 36 there, including us, so there should be plenty. I am BBQing about 5 pork roasts and another brother is BBQimg about 3 beef roasts. So there should be plenty of meat, I hope. I will enjoy seeing those folks eat some good food, and me too!
This evening we took Nyle to the movies. We went to see Toy Story 3. It was a pretty good show I thought. It was a little intense in a few places, a bit over the top for kids, but not too bad. At no time did I think we needed to get up and walk out or anything. It's just animated drama. Still, who needs more stress in their life? Not me.I did like the way it really showed the importance of commitment and family ties, even though a family may be made up of different personalities. I thought that was a good lesson a child, as well as grown folks could take away from the movie experience. I like it when I can take the things Nyle has seen and witnessed like that movie and use it as a "teachable moment". I need all the teaching aids I can to be successful.
We left little Owen with Allen and Claudia, friends from the hall. They are a young couple that have no children of their own. They are pioneering and waiting for better times in the future to have kids. Not a bad idea, really.
It's s different world now. Last night Nyle and I were talking about something, I don't remember now what it was. But a question came up that I did not know the answer too right off, and he said, "that's all right, I will look it up online". He just turned 4. There are so many things that ca be looked up online. Some good ad some not. Apostates seem to really enjoy using it. You really have to be careful what you click on. Nyle likes to watch old cartoons on youtube. The real old Goofy cartoons. He likes those alot. And mickey mouse club. He also likes to watch tractors, cars, races motorcycles, and he even plays a few pre-school video games.They are used as an educational tool. Math, spelling, reading and so on. The computer is a great tool for that. They have to learn how to use it, it's the age we live in. The age they live in.
The weather has been a but better of late. It's not been quite so hot. This year has gone by so quickly. Where does the time go? My boys are growing up. Soon thy will be gone, and I will be old. It's hard to imagine. Many things in my history seems like only yesterday. I suppose it was. And now this day is nearly concluded. and tomorrow, I will be smokin'!
To see what tomorrow brings,or not, makes it interesting, doesn't it?
This evening we took Nyle to the movies. We went to see Toy Story 3. It was a pretty good show I thought. It was a little intense in a few places, a bit over the top for kids, but not too bad. At no time did I think we needed to get up and walk out or anything. It's just animated drama. Still, who needs more stress in their life? Not me.I did like the way it really showed the importance of commitment and family ties, even though a family may be made up of different personalities. I thought that was a good lesson a child, as well as grown folks could take away from the movie experience. I like it when I can take the things Nyle has seen and witnessed like that movie and use it as a "teachable moment". I need all the teaching aids I can to be successful.
We left little Owen with Allen and Claudia, friends from the hall. They are a young couple that have no children of their own. They are pioneering and waiting for better times in the future to have kids. Not a bad idea, really.
It's s different world now. Last night Nyle and I were talking about something, I don't remember now what it was. But a question came up that I did not know the answer too right off, and he said, "that's all right, I will look it up online". He just turned 4. There are so many things that ca be looked up online. Some good ad some not. Apostates seem to really enjoy using it. You really have to be careful what you click on. Nyle likes to watch old cartoons on youtube. The real old Goofy cartoons. He likes those alot. And mickey mouse club. He also likes to watch tractors, cars, races motorcycles, and he even plays a few pre-school video games.They are used as an educational tool. Math, spelling, reading and so on. The computer is a great tool for that. They have to learn how to use it, it's the age we live in. The age they live in.
The weather has been a but better of late. It's not been quite so hot. This year has gone by so quickly. Where does the time go? My boys are growing up. Soon thy will be gone, and I will be old. It's hard to imagine. Many things in my history seems like only yesterday. I suppose it was. And now this day is nearly concluded. and tomorrow, I will be smokin'!
To see what tomorrow brings,or not, makes it interesting, doesn't it?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
What is the smell of a banana?
A child is born, again.
This post is way late, but better late than never I suppose.
A few months ago I witnessed the birth of my second son.
It is an incredible moment to see a new life come into existence. The first time a new person takes their first breath and begins their life as a mortal soul on this earth.
God has a plan.
What is my role?
As a father, I try very hard to understand my children. I listen very carefully to what they say. I ask them, “How do feel about that?” And no matter what they say to that question I never ever react in a negative way, no matter what their response is. I want to teach them the right way to live, and enjoy life. There are times, though, that I am sure I learn more than they do about life via our relationship. If you listen, children will teach YOU about yourself. You will wonder, “Where did they here that?” “Why did they react THAT way?” “How did he come to that understanding?” When you see your children doing something and or saying something that you do not necessarily like, you are looking most likely at yourself. (The converse is also true.)
I will give you an example-
A few nights ago I was asking my son, Nyle, to go down stairs and turn some lights off. He simply did not want to do this. My first question was “Why,” or “Why not?” As an adult we tend to look at things as an adult. That is why we so often do not understand our children. So I started thinking like I did when I was 3. (Not so hard for me) When I was three, or maybe a little older, we lived in a “BIG” house (at least it seemed big to me back then) and there was a room down stairs that had a lamp in the back corner that I would be made to switch off after dark by one of my parents. AFTER everyone went upstairs to bed. It was “my chore.” In that room, or somewhere along the route that I had to take to get to and come from that room, we had a T.V. I had to go past it in order for me to get back up the stairs, where the lights were on and the darkness abated and “the fear” would vanish. I was scared of the dark. Especially “that” dark. The T.V. turned into a bear, a monster, a presence, that was simply out to get me. Being made to turn that light out was shear terror to me. I dreaded it so very much I can not express it in words. It is a fear worse than the fear of death. It is a fear on par with torture, and then death, and whatever is worse than that. I wanted so very much to have someone “go with me” to turn that light out. Yes I shed tears in anguish and terror over the simple task of switching off that light.
I don’t know why I had this fear and dread, but it was my master in that time. Perhaps it stemmed from an incident that took place when I was a scant 9 months old. You see, I accidently severed my index, and middle finger on my right hand. The index finger was completely severed, and the middle one was barely hanging by a bit of skin. I lost my index finger, and I now have limited use of my middle finger. It must have been a frightening, painful experience for me then, though I have little, or no memory of the incident now.
I wonder, -How much did that T.V look like that stove ?
Sure, it makes since now, but back then I did not understand the fear and my anxieties of that old television that I watched many wonderful Disney movies on. In the light of day and in the company of others, that old T.V. brought many hours of relaxation, fun, and great adventures. But alone in the dark of night, it was a demon out to eat my soul-heart.
I do not want my son to have to confront that kind of terror. He does not need to learn “how to handle it”.
So I told him a few nights ago, “You know son, I used to be scared of the dark too, and it’s ok if you are a little scared. It’s part of being little and just not knowing what is out there. I understand how you feel.” Then I said “I will go with you, if you want me to.” He did, and so I happily went with him. It is easy to be a hero in these situations, so why not be one for your child? I do not believe in forcing your children to “grow up”. I believe they will grow faster and better if you just be there for them. They need to believe that I “have their back” and I want them to succeed in life. Sometimes when we are forced to do something we really dread, we can feel unloved and uncared for. Now my parents were good people and would not have made me do that fearful task, IF they really knew how terrified I was. How would you feel if you had to do something that was absolutely terrifying for you to think about, let alone do, and I came up and said “don’t worry, I know how you feel, I understand how you feel. I have felt the same way too, but there is really nothing to be afraid of- REALLY. I have done this, and if you want me to, I will come with you so that you will know everything will be just fine, you will see.” And you KNEW that if a came with you, that everything WOULD be just fine. And I went, and everything was just easy and perfectly fine. How would you feel about our relationship? Have I gained some of your trust? And if the next time I helped, and the next, and the next, somewhere along the way you will believe me when I tell you everything will just be fine, you do not need me to come, but I will if you really want me to. Somewhere along about 16, you are not going to want me to go with you…… This will be great, but just a little sad for me. It’s just part of growing up. For both of us.
They will grow up.
I want-- I have to know my children’s fears, so that I can know my own.
As you recall, your children are your soul mirrors. It is therefore advantageous and necessary to think about your child. Who he is, inside. His thoughts, fears, and worries. And, of course, what makes them happy. To a great extent the bridge to my children’s future, is me. And the bridge to my future happiness, is my children. Whether it shall be a happy transition for them, or not, from baby to young child to a grown boy- adolescent- and then adult -a lot of that transition whether a success or failure, depends upon me. No one else has a greater influence on how this will transpire more than I. Now here is the clincher. A lot of MY personal happiness and feeling of success and self worth depends on how my child does. Now, and in the future.
So how do you secure the future for your children and therefore yourself?
You have to start early and you absolutely have to be honest. Children know. They notice things you do not think they do.
Be very careful when you kid a kid. If you do, make sure that you tell them “I am just kidding of course.” Make sure they know what that means.
Another GREAT BIG problem is we do not take time to explain our words and meanings.
If I said to you, “I want to introduce you to your aunt Jessica.”, you would be fine with that. But what if you did not know what “introduce” was, would you be just a little nervous? (You want to do what with me?!) How would you explain what “introduce” is to a 3 year old? Knowing, or learning how to do that well, can have a great impact on your childs development.
Imagine going in to a math class and everyone knew how to work out the problems, but you did not. And everyone was taking turns at the board showing their method of acquiring the answer. When it comes to your turn, what are you going to do? What will you say? How will you feel? Being asked a question in terms you do not understand is frustrating, demeaning, and can raise your anxiety level to panic attack, if you fee the other people expect you to know all of what you do not understand. Imagine being in a courtroom filled with lawyers, witness’s and judges speaking legalize and at some point they all turn to you and say, “Have you got anything to say about that?” or “what is your response to that?”
We say things all the time our children do not understand. If your 3 year old asked, “what does anxious mean?” what would you say? Or “what is yellow?” Or “What does smell mean?” How about this.
Explain to me what is the smell of a banana?
When you can explain that, you just might become a good communicator with children.
Some things have to be experienced, don’t they.
That’s why so many things “taste like chicken”. ( You have eaten chicken, right?)
So how are we doing? Nyles’ communication skills were just tested. He is on 6 year old+ level. He is very sharp, and reasons very much like an adult.
Nyle maybe an above average person, but my wife and I have had A LOT to do with his skill level.
He can say all the books of the Bible, in order.
Count to at least 14. Do simple adding and subtracting.
Makes up his own lyrics and songs.
And knows the meaning of word such as “apparently” “decision” and “incredible”.
But most importantly he knows what the word “LOVE” means.
And that’s the most important.
Friday, July 30, 2010
A winner! Just keep Peddling
Today Nyle won his first trophy at the Monroe County Fair, in the peal tractor pull.
It's all very exciting!
If he wins State we are thinking about touring the U.S.A and doing exhibition pulls at malls and department store Grand Opening for a price, of course. We will have T shirts, bill boards and a trailer with his picture on the side with flames coming out of his custom pedal puller.
And of course autographs....when he can write his name
Maybe we will introduce his own line of kids vitamins and write a book about "How to Become be a Champion Pedal Puller-Advice that Works!".
He went ALL THE way. They had to stop him because they were afraid he was going to break the sled.
He is scheduled to compete for the grand prize tomorrow at 4:00 P.M.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
BISCUIT! and Gravey
I have been busy outside with this and that. Finished up our hours for the Aux. Pioneer month. It was the best month in years!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Visitors
We have 'visitors" at our hall this weeek. The D.O and the C.O. are here. I have not worked with either one of them yet, but that's o.k. If they get me in thier car group great! If not, well I guess that will be fine. I don't want to "push" my self in to their car group. The C.O. asks a question after we meet and make car groups. Today I figured out the answer. Yeah me! I think it was pretty easy one though.
We got home about 4:00 and I took a little nap then went and cleaned a place for Jen. She took Nyle to the Dr. to have his ears checked. He is fine. He has allergies and the pollen is really high right now. So just a lot of sinus drainage I guess.
It was a bright sunny day. The wind was cool and the sky was blue with little white whisps of clouds. A really nice day.
I am looking forward to tomorow. We have this week heavily scheduled for field service to make our Aux, Pio. time. I am enjoying the field ministry and I am excited about our "visitors".
So I guess I will wrap this evening up for now.
We got home about 4:00 and I took a little nap then went and cleaned a place for Jen. She took Nyle to the Dr. to have his ears checked. He is fine. He has allergies and the pollen is really high right now. So just a lot of sinus drainage I guess.
It was a bright sunny day. The wind was cool and the sky was blue with little white whisps of clouds. A really nice day.
I am looking forward to tomorow. We have this week heavily scheduled for field service to make our Aux, Pio. time. I am enjoying the field ministry and I am excited about our "visitors".
So I guess I will wrap this evening up for now.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Now I'm talking!
I do not have a lot of time for this evenings post, but I do have some news. I gave my interview on the assembly and that went very well. The brothers backstage all gave me thumbs up when I walked off. hat was a nice gesture. They said it sounded good, sincere, convincing.. It should, it was the truth!
We had the Special Talk this weekend. A local brother gave it. (Little Al) we will call him. He did a nice job, even though he had a terrible cold. His wife was so sick with it, she was not thee. They are a young couple. He was just appointed elder, so this was his first "Special Talk", so you know she had to be sick to miss that!.
After the meeting one of the elders called me back and told me they had decided it was time for me to get a talk outline. He gave me a list of talks and I have to pick one. That is easier said than done. I have several to pick from... decisions decisions...
At any rate I was excited to get the chance to give a Sunday talk.
In the 8 months after I lost my job I have been made Ministerial Servant, Aux pioneered twice, gave a part on the assembly, and given an opportunity to give an outline talk. Oh yeah, and had another son! So I been BZ!!!!
Got my chainsaw running, but the weed eater is almost a basket case. I am going to try and repair it again, but I do not have much faith in the prospect of me getting it going again. Drats! And I love weed eating soooo much too!!!
Owen,the littlest boy (2 months old now) is starting to cooo and baby blab to me. And it must be funny cause he smiles about it afterwards.
We took the kids to the Zoo the day before I gave my part. That was ok. Jen locked the keys in the car. It costs $40.00 to get a car unlocked down there. Oh well, it could happen to any one, and it does. I did watch a few youtube vids on how to unlock your car. I think I will first try it next time before I spend the $$$ for the locksmith. He used a pump up door spreader that looks like a small blood pressure cuff and wedged it in the door to run a thin wire to hit the unlock button.
I think I could do it now. I though about using my belt slipped over the top corner of the door and pulling on the door to spring it a little and have Jen try and hit the button NEXT time.If.
Well, this is a rambling post, but I don't have much time for clarity.
Sorry.
Till next time
We had the Special Talk this weekend. A local brother gave it. (Little Al) we will call him. He did a nice job, even though he had a terrible cold. His wife was so sick with it, she was not thee. They are a young couple. He was just appointed elder, so this was his first "Special Talk", so you know she had to be sick to miss that!.
After the meeting one of the elders called me back and told me they had decided it was time for me to get a talk outline. He gave me a list of talks and I have to pick one. That is easier said than done. I have several to pick from... decisions decisions...
At any rate I was excited to get the chance to give a Sunday talk.
In the 8 months after I lost my job I have been made Ministerial Servant, Aux pioneered twice, gave a part on the assembly, and given an opportunity to give an outline talk. Oh yeah, and had another son! So I been BZ!!!!
Got my chainsaw running, but the weed eater is almost a basket case. I am going to try and repair it again, but I do not have much faith in the prospect of me getting it going again. Drats! And I love weed eating soooo much too!!!
Owen,the littlest boy (2 months old now) is starting to cooo and baby blab to me. And it must be funny cause he smiles about it afterwards.
We took the kids to the Zoo the day before I gave my part. That was ok. Jen locked the keys in the car. It costs $40.00 to get a car unlocked down there. Oh well, it could happen to any one, and it does. I did watch a few youtube vids on how to unlock your car. I think I will first try it next time before I spend the $$$ for the locksmith. He used a pump up door spreader that looks like a small blood pressure cuff and wedged it in the door to run a thin wire to hit the unlock button.
I think I could do it now. I though about using my belt slipped over the top corner of the door and pulling on the door to spring it a little and have Jen try and hit the button NEXT time.If.
Well, this is a rambling post, but I don't have much time for clarity.
Sorry.
Till next time
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Look Ma, No notes!
Today was a good day. I helped Jen clean a few houses. So she made a little money for the gas and electric bill. She and I were finished in about 3.5 hours and made somewhere around $125.00. If she had a few more places to clean, I could quit looking for a job. A friend of ours kept the kids for the few hours. She has goats and dogs. Nyle loves both. HE had to go give the dogs some treats. Julia (our friend) also fixed lunch for us. It was delicious. Smoked sausage,red beans,barley, and spices. It was really good.
Nyle enjoyed his time there. And Owen was a good baby, she said. He usually does not fuss too much, unless he is hungry, then watch out!
I gave a 10 minute talk tonight with no notes. I gave it out of the B.E, book. I just highlighted the scriptures that I wanted to bring out and had my main points, and an introduction I had come up with. Jen said it was of my best. I am getting better at not using so many notes. I used to have all my talks scripted, word for word wrote out. So I was not very fluent. Or dd not connect well as I could have with the audience.
I've still got my small engine repairs waiting on me. They sent my gas libe for the chainsaw yesterday. Maybe I will have i in a day or 2. I need to be cutting some wood.
Well, thats all for now...
Nyle enjoyed his time there. And Owen was a good baby, she said. He usually does not fuss too much, unless he is hungry, then watch out!
I gave a 10 minute talk tonight with no notes. I gave it out of the B.E, book. I just highlighted the scriptures that I wanted to bring out and had my main points, and an introduction I had come up with. Jen said it was of my best. I am getting better at not using so many notes. I used to have all my talks scripted, word for word wrote out. So I was not very fluent. Or dd not connect well as I could have with the audience.
I've still got my small engine repairs waiting on me. They sent my gas libe for the chainsaw yesterday. Maybe I will have i in a day or 2. I need to be cutting some wood.
Well, thats all for now...
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Take 2
Today I had another rehearsal. This one was 1.5 hours away. My part lasted about 2 minutes. There were several there that were from 2 hours away. There was a brother there that is a dead ringer for David Letterman. I understand he gets told that....A LOT!
I mean if David got sick, this guy could fill in and no one would know.
The D.O. said our part "was beautiful". So I guess I am ready for this Saturday. I hope.
I went in early today and cleaned some offices of one of the factories we clean. The H.R. lady told me that Friday would be her last day there. She is going to go to work for the city. I congratulated her. She said that she was excited about this new job. She is going to be in a city department that oversees complaints about people not mowing their yards, or getting their sidewalks shoveled off when it snows. I brought up the fact that I was wanting to start a small lawn service. She thought about that about 2 seconds and grabbed a sticky note to write down my phone number, which she all ready has. I gave her 2 more business cards. Before all of that transpired I had just told her how much appreciated working with her and how approachable and easy she was to work with and I thanked her for that. She smiled and thanked me for the kind words. So I kind of unknowingly greased the skids when the yard mowing idea came out. So maybe I'll get in to the lawn service, and or snow removal. Jehovah well point me in the right direction on that. I don't have to worry about it too much. Just be ready where ever he says to go and do what he opens the door. Don't worry, be happy.
I was up this week on my trading. I am up over 20 bucks for the month. Woo,Hoo! The markets are really slow/sluggish right now. Almost no movement in them at all. I suppose when it breaks it will go one way or the other a long long way. That's not good for the way I trade. I am a "swing trader". Not a trend trader. So we will see soon how that works out. I don't stress over it too much. Jehovah will provide- is providing. I am just trying to give him something to work with. :)
Don't worry, be happy
Owen has had some allergy problems, but Jen took him to the doctor and the Doc said "the allergists say he is too young to have allergies." I don't think the Doc much believed that either. At any rate we got some nose spray that she suggested and he seems to be doing a lot better.
The weather was really warm today, hot really. Almost 90f, that is hot for here at this time of the year. We are running the air conditioning all ready.
I mentioned earlier that my in laws are having to move because of I-69 buying their house and tearing it down. So they are having to move. Which means they are getting rid of a lot of the stuff they have accumulated over the years. My father in law gave me an itty bity 6" fan that I keep on my computer desk. I really like this thing. It is surprising what a little fan like this can do towards cooling you off.
He also gave me a ton of electronics and radio stuff. My kinda "stuff"! Maybe someday I will get time to tinker with it. Right now I am working on small engines. I've about got my weed eater going, I think. Those things will test your patience. I hope I get my chainsaw gas line soon. I am still waiting on that. I've also got an ECHO gas powered leaf blower I picked up out of the trash dumpster that as far as I can tell, just needed a new fuel line. So maybe I can get them all running next week. This week I am too busy. Tomorrow I clean 2 houses. Big houses. And I have a 10 minutes talk tomorrow night that I kind of have an idea of what I am going to say. I need to work on that a little more.
We have a room in Evansville to go to the night before my part. So we are going down early Friday and go to the zoo and maybe to the river walk and pic nic. We are trying to make this a mini vacation sort of a deal. This Sunday we are having the Special Talk. The brother that is giving ours also has a talk Saturday at the assembly. He is 28 and just made elder and a full time pioneer. He's very busy. I am his assistant in a few things. I am his book study assistant, and territory assistant. He gave me the job to make the new maps, which Jen ended up doing. Yeah Jen! Yeah me! Woo! Hoo! Life is good!!!
Next week we will have the D.O and the C.O at our hall because we have the privilege of being the host congregation. I'd like to make a banner that says, "Welcome to Korn Field County!" And one that says, "If you are here, you are lost" placed out in the territory.
The C.O.'s wife loves Starbucks coffee. I'd like to setup a Starbuck OWENS out here somewhere's....
The D.O loves fried Bologna sandwiches, so the report goes. Me too!
So we are going to have a great month here, and very much looking forward to it.
I'll see you out in the "field".
I mean if David got sick, this guy could fill in and no one would know.
The D.O. said our part "was beautiful". So I guess I am ready for this Saturday. I hope.
I went in early today and cleaned some offices of one of the factories we clean. The H.R. lady told me that Friday would be her last day there. She is going to go to work for the city. I congratulated her. She said that she was excited about this new job. She is going to be in a city department that oversees complaints about people not mowing their yards, or getting their sidewalks shoveled off when it snows. I brought up the fact that I was wanting to start a small lawn service. She thought about that about 2 seconds and grabbed a sticky note to write down my phone number, which she all ready has. I gave her 2 more business cards. Before all of that transpired I had just told her how much appreciated working with her and how approachable and easy she was to work with and I thanked her for that. She smiled and thanked me for the kind words. So I kind of unknowingly greased the skids when the yard mowing idea came out. So maybe I'll get in to the lawn service, and or snow removal. Jehovah well point me in the right direction on that. I don't have to worry about it too much. Just be ready where ever he says to go and do what he opens the door. Don't worry, be happy.
I was up this week on my trading. I am up over 20 bucks for the month. Woo,Hoo! The markets are really slow/sluggish right now. Almost no movement in them at all. I suppose when it breaks it will go one way or the other a long long way. That's not good for the way I trade. I am a "swing trader". Not a trend trader. So we will see soon how that works out. I don't stress over it too much. Jehovah will provide- is providing. I am just trying to give him something to work with. :)
Don't worry, be happy
Owen has had some allergy problems, but Jen took him to the doctor and the Doc said "the allergists say he is too young to have allergies." I don't think the Doc much believed that either. At any rate we got some nose spray that she suggested and he seems to be doing a lot better.
The weather was really warm today, hot really. Almost 90f, that is hot for here at this time of the year. We are running the air conditioning all ready.
I mentioned earlier that my in laws are having to move because of I-69 buying their house and tearing it down. So they are having to move. Which means they are getting rid of a lot of the stuff they have accumulated over the years. My father in law gave me an itty bity 6" fan that I keep on my computer desk. I really like this thing. It is surprising what a little fan like this can do towards cooling you off.
He also gave me a ton of electronics and radio stuff. My kinda "stuff"! Maybe someday I will get time to tinker with it. Right now I am working on small engines. I've about got my weed eater going, I think. Those things will test your patience. I hope I get my chainsaw gas line soon. I am still waiting on that. I've also got an ECHO gas powered leaf blower I picked up out of the trash dumpster that as far as I can tell, just needed a new fuel line. So maybe I can get them all running next week. This week I am too busy. Tomorrow I clean 2 houses. Big houses. And I have a 10 minutes talk tomorrow night that I kind of have an idea of what I am going to say. I need to work on that a little more.
We have a room in Evansville to go to the night before my part. So we are going down early Friday and go to the zoo and maybe to the river walk and pic nic. We are trying to make this a mini vacation sort of a deal. This Sunday we are having the Special Talk. The brother that is giving ours also has a talk Saturday at the assembly. He is 28 and just made elder and a full time pioneer. He's very busy. I am his assistant in a few things. I am his book study assistant, and territory assistant. He gave me the job to make the new maps, which Jen ended up doing. Yeah Jen! Yeah me! Woo! Hoo! Life is good!!!
Next week we will have the D.O and the C.O at our hall because we have the privilege of being the host congregation. I'd like to make a banner that says, "Welcome to Korn Field County!" And one that says, "If you are here, you are lost" placed out in the territory.
The C.O.'s wife loves Starbucks coffee. I'd like to setup a Starbuck OWENS out here somewhere's....
The D.O loves fried Bologna sandwiches, so the report goes. Me too!
So we are going to have a great month here, and very much looking forward to it.
I'll see you out in the "field".
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Getting Ready
This morning I got ready to go to a rehearsal. I am to be interviewed in the next Circuit Assembly. It has to how I responded when I lost my job. Instead of taking on work that may have taken me away from the family and the meetings,we Auxiliary Pioneered with in a few weeks. I admit life seemed a lot better after I had a new focus and goal. I've had some really great calls since then.
The C.O. was there, of course, and many others that have parts,and I got to hear several parts before I had my interview. It was like a miniature Circuit Assembly. It was really nice and I enjoyed the experience very much.
The weather has been really nice today. If my chainsaw was running I would go cut some wood, but alas, that is not the case at the moment. I have some parts ordered and I hope to have them sometime next week.
The weather is very nice. It is about 68 out and the sun is shinning. However the kids have terrible allergies and the pollen count is higher than it ever has been in the history of mankind. So we are not comfortable with going to a park with the kids. They are already sick with head cold, infected ears,and chest colds. So I don't know what we shall do a fine day like today. I'd like to go fishing, but I suppose that Will be out of the question. Maybe we can have a wienie roast or something.
I'll write more latter.
The C.O. was there, of course, and many others that have parts,and I got to hear several parts before I had my interview. It was like a miniature Circuit Assembly. It was really nice and I enjoyed the experience very much.
The weather has been really nice today. If my chainsaw was running I would go cut some wood, but alas, that is not the case at the moment. I have some parts ordered and I hope to have them sometime next week.
The weather is very nice. It is about 68 out and the sun is shinning. However the kids have terrible allergies and the pollen count is higher than it ever has been in the history of mankind. So we are not comfortable with going to a park with the kids. They are already sick with head cold, infected ears,and chest colds. So I don't know what we shall do a fine day like today. I'd like to go fishing, but I suppose that Will be out of the question. Maybe we can have a wienie roast or something.
I'll write more latter.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Change
Well today was a bit cooler than what the weather has been like for the past few weeks. I guess that is why I was feeeling a little down today. That and my trading has dipped a bit. I am in some trades now that look like they will do ok though.
I worked on the Cub Cadet lawn mower trying to figure out why it was showing discharge all the time. I disconested the battery and it kept running so I knew it was charging. So in my endless logic I figured that I had some how got some wires reversed, so I reversed what I thought might be causing the problem. The end result is that now the mower does not run after I diconect the battery. So I blew a fuse, or worse, melted something of importance in the charging circuit. Also my Chain saw is not running any more. It started running lean while I was cutting the other day so I figured the filter in the tank needed cleaned. Now I need a new gas line after my attempt to clean it. They don't make this brand of saw anymore so I had to order the special molded gas line for it off of the internet. At about 10 bucks shipped. I am pretty sure that was not why my saw was not running right. So when I get the new line I will start trying to fx the original problem. Our car has been leaking power sterring fluid for about 6 months. I am so afraid of tying in to it to try and fix it. I am confient if I do, I will need a new front end for the car, or something more expensive, by the time I am done working on it. At the time, I am lacking suffcient self confidence to accomplish much more than flufing my pillow on the bed. I think it's a slight slump of depression. I a few days I'll be right as rain. I hope.
An intersting thing to record is Nyle has a saying now. He will sat, "What time is it?" Then he goes down stairs and looks at the bedroom clock. He comes back up here and no matter what the time really is, he says, "It's 7 oclock! That's wrestling time!" and then we werestle. Our wrestling is- he pushes on me, and I on him trying to push each other off of the bed. Seeing how I out weigh hime by about 230 pound, I win a lot of the times. But he just enjoys a little ruff housing with the ole man, and I with him.
Owen is still a rumpy baby, when he is awake, which isn't very much. He sleeps a lot. He too is suffering from alergies and gets in to a chocking gaging fit sometimes. This state is bad for alergies. I have problems here too.
Well, I guess that is all for now. Not much happy happy today. Maybe a better day tomorow.
I hope.
I worked on the Cub Cadet lawn mower trying to figure out why it was showing discharge all the time. I disconested the battery and it kept running so I knew it was charging. So in my endless logic I figured that I had some how got some wires reversed, so I reversed what I thought might be causing the problem. The end result is that now the mower does not run after I diconect the battery. So I blew a fuse, or worse, melted something of importance in the charging circuit. Also my Chain saw is not running any more. It started running lean while I was cutting the other day so I figured the filter in the tank needed cleaned. Now I need a new gas line after my attempt to clean it. They don't make this brand of saw anymore so I had to order the special molded gas line for it off of the internet. At about 10 bucks shipped. I am pretty sure that was not why my saw was not running right. So when I get the new line I will start trying to fx the original problem. Our car has been leaking power sterring fluid for about 6 months. I am so afraid of tying in to it to try and fix it. I am confient if I do, I will need a new front end for the car, or something more expensive, by the time I am done working on it. At the time, I am lacking suffcient self confidence to accomplish much more than flufing my pillow on the bed. I think it's a slight slump of depression. I a few days I'll be right as rain. I hope.
An intersting thing to record is Nyle has a saying now. He will sat, "What time is it?" Then he goes down stairs and looks at the bedroom clock. He comes back up here and no matter what the time really is, he says, "It's 7 oclock! That's wrestling time!" and then we werestle. Our wrestling is- he pushes on me, and I on him trying to push each other off of the bed. Seeing how I out weigh hime by about 230 pound, I win a lot of the times. But he just enjoys a little ruff housing with the ole man, and I with him.
Owen is still a rumpy baby, when he is awake, which isn't very much. He sleeps a lot. He too is suffering from alergies and gets in to a chocking gaging fit sometimes. This state is bad for alergies. I have problems here too.
Well, I guess that is all for now. Not much happy happy today. Maybe a better day tomorow.
I hope.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Spring Fever
Spring is in the air, so is pollen!
Nyle went to the doctor today. He has been a little sick for the past week. It turns out he has both ears infected. It's all due to the allergy season this part of the country is known for. I guess if I lived in Florida that would not be a problem so much. I have not been feeling so chipper myself. I have felt like I have a 1/4 of a flu bug. I suppose that is from allergies as well. I got the load of wood unloaded out of my truck. It stacked pretty good for being hickory. Hickory has a lot of crooked limbs. I need about 12-15 more loads and I will have my Wood cut for this coming winter.
Owen is doing ok. He has an eye that's always "gunky". Nyle had the same thing when he was his age. It must be a baby thing. He is gaining weight and eating well.
I finally got the breaks bled on the van today. It has had "soft" brakes for a few months. Jen gave me a hand with that. I wonder how people who live alone, bleed their brakes? Is suppose they take it to a mechanic, or give some kid 5 bucks to pump their brakes while they bleed them.
Well this is turning out to be pretty boring post I guess. I don't have much to say.
Oh ya, the weather is turning cold again for a few days. It's supposed to be down in the 30's for the next few days.
Our blackberry bushes have are doing real goods, as well as our raspberry bushes. We should have plenty of berries now. Jen makes preserves, jellies, jams and pies out of them. We bought a few blueberry bushes earlier this year, but the seem sickly. They are in pots so that we can take better care of them. If the lettuce we had planted is any indication, they would be better off thrown on a ditch bank.
Well, that's about it for now.
Nyle went to the doctor today. He has been a little sick for the past week. It turns out he has both ears infected. It's all due to the allergy season this part of the country is known for. I guess if I lived in Florida that would not be a problem so much. I have not been feeling so chipper myself. I have felt like I have a 1/4 of a flu bug. I suppose that is from allergies as well. I got the load of wood unloaded out of my truck. It stacked pretty good for being hickory. Hickory has a lot of crooked limbs. I need about 12-15 more loads and I will have my Wood cut for this coming winter.
Owen is doing ok. He has an eye that's always "gunky". Nyle had the same thing when he was his age. It must be a baby thing. He is gaining weight and eating well.
I finally got the breaks bled on the van today. It has had "soft" brakes for a few months. Jen gave me a hand with that. I wonder how people who live alone, bleed their brakes? Is suppose they take it to a mechanic, or give some kid 5 bucks to pump their brakes while they bleed them.
Well this is turning out to be pretty boring post I guess. I don't have much to say.
Oh ya, the weather is turning cold again for a few days. It's supposed to be down in the 30's for the next few days.
Our blackberry bushes have are doing real goods, as well as our raspberry bushes. We should have plenty of berries now. Jen makes preserves, jellies, jams and pies out of them. We bought a few blueberry bushes earlier this year, but the seem sickly. They are in pots so that we can take better care of them. If the lettuce we had planted is any indication, they would be better off thrown on a ditch bank.
Well, that's about it for now.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Spring time
Yesterday the family went out in field service for about 8 hours. We are aux. this month and are all ready a little behind. I placed 8 mags and Jen placed 14. We both feel this has been a good and productive month so far. Nyle has been tormented by allergies this spring. I've been a little bit under the weather myself. I wonder where that saying comes from, "under the weather". There has been a nice breeze blowing all nigh in to my window. I supp pose that means rain is in the forecast. But that's ok too. Rain is good. My peas in the garden will like it. I heard yesterday we are fore casted 2 more hard frosts this year. I hope they are wrong. According to the weather man, we had a big snow this time last year. I do not remember getting snow at this time, but I guess that is why they keep records. We forget otherwise. That is why I blog.
Tha's all for now.
Tha's all for now.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Firewood warms twice
Well a lot has happened since my last post.
The State of Indiana has bought my inlaws house and are going to tear it down. I69 is going right through the middle of their house. So they are building a new house a but futher back on "Papa's" dads place. On the old farm. The are going to get out of the cow business I guess. I am not sure if they intend to still plant row crops or not. If so, it's just going to be a few acres. Probably less than 50. It's a shame how they lost so much. They are loosing a way of life, not just a house and a few acres. I am looking forward to what it says there in Issiah, "They will build houses and someone else will not occupy it. They well dwell in security under thier own vine". Everything in this system is sooooooo temporary. Except the heartaches and problems. They seem to last foeever. I guess I am sounding "downer" that I am. I am actually quite happy! I am still unemployed, and loving it really..
We are getting state assistance (food stamps)and we are eating better now than when I had a job! I actually qualified for them when I had my job, but did not know it. Ir's not stamps anymore, they give you a card like a debit card and swipe it when you check out. Ca-Ching, free money. You gotta like that!
Owen is a few months old now, and REALLY growing. He is big! I call him my Chunky MOnkey. Nyle is smart as a whip. Asks a lot of questions. Takes his own doors in field service. And now he is giving his own comments at the meetings. this Sunday he said, "because we love him". I think that was in connection with why we worship Jehovah, or something. Very touching. He is 3 years old. He has his own presentations and is very eager to tell people about Jehovah. Sometimes too eager. A lady told hime the other day, "you were knockiing kinda hard on that door weren't you?" She said it with a smile, and he does knock too hard sometimes. But one thing about it, people are going to know when he is there.
We auxilary pioneering this month. We have the C.O. and the D.O. this month. We have about 8 involved with the assembly that have parts. We only have like 40 publishers. There is a good spirit in Bloomfield. Ya'll come for a visit and you'll see. We had about 89 for memorial. Brother Rainer gave the best talk I ever heard. EXCELLENT! I wish I had a recording of it. But that might not be appropriate....
We went fishing a week or so ago at uncle Jimmies lake and caught about 10 good sized fish. We kept about 5 and cooked them that night. We wished we had 5 more! Although this past weekend Jr. and Brenda K. held a fish fry and I think he had 25-30 pound of catfish. It was a real nice time.
The weather has been really nice and sunny but cool enough for chainsaw work. I cut wood today and worked up a sweat. I sure will like it this winter too. It's time for mushroom hunting. Maybe I will get a chance in the next few days to look for some,,,,and maybe even find a few!
Side note: We did try making some more Maple Syrup this year, but it was not a good year. The weather was all hot, then all cold, and then all hot again. So the sap didn't run right. We ended up with about 3 pints. But it's a good tasting 3 oints all the same. I ordered some real taps this year, so maybe next year we will really make some syrup! It's a fun family thing to do and it tastes great too.
I've been trading Forex exchange win some loose some. The potential to make a lot of money in that is there, but loosing it is there too. Hopefully I am getting better at trading. I like using the EA Jim has made and then usuing 1-2-3 to assist in closing stuborn trades.
I have not turned my ham radio on in months, nor fiddled with Ubunto. I don't have enough time. I am now a ministirial servant, a husband, and a father of 2- and have a lot more to do at the hall now. I have realy been blessed since loosing my job! Giving 10 minute talks is a lot easier than I thought it would be.
Well, I guess I will close this out. I could write all night, but that would probably be booring.
To all my friends and reader(s),
Agape
The State of Indiana has bought my inlaws house and are going to tear it down. I69 is going right through the middle of their house. So they are building a new house a but futher back on "Papa's" dads place. On the old farm. The are going to get out of the cow business I guess. I am not sure if they intend to still plant row crops or not. If so, it's just going to be a few acres. Probably less than 50. It's a shame how they lost so much. They are loosing a way of life, not just a house and a few acres. I am looking forward to what it says there in Issiah, "They will build houses and someone else will not occupy it. They well dwell in security under thier own vine". Everything in this system is sooooooo temporary. Except the heartaches and problems. They seem to last foeever. I guess I am sounding "downer" that I am. I am actually quite happy! I am still unemployed, and loving it really..
We are getting state assistance (food stamps)and we are eating better now than when I had a job! I actually qualified for them when I had my job, but did not know it. Ir's not stamps anymore, they give you a card like a debit card and swipe it when you check out. Ca-Ching, free money. You gotta like that!
Owen is a few months old now, and REALLY growing. He is big! I call him my Chunky MOnkey. Nyle is smart as a whip. Asks a lot of questions. Takes his own doors in field service. And now he is giving his own comments at the meetings. this Sunday he said, "because we love him". I think that was in connection with why we worship Jehovah, or something. Very touching. He is 3 years old. He has his own presentations and is very eager to tell people about Jehovah. Sometimes too eager. A lady told hime the other day, "you were knockiing kinda hard on that door weren't you?" She said it with a smile, and he does knock too hard sometimes. But one thing about it, people are going to know when he is there.
We auxilary pioneering this month. We have the C.O. and the D.O. this month. We have about 8 involved with the assembly that have parts. We only have like 40 publishers. There is a good spirit in Bloomfield. Ya'll come for a visit and you'll see. We had about 89 for memorial. Brother Rainer gave the best talk I ever heard. EXCELLENT! I wish I had a recording of it. But that might not be appropriate....
We went fishing a week or so ago at uncle Jimmies lake and caught about 10 good sized fish. We kept about 5 and cooked them that night. We wished we had 5 more! Although this past weekend Jr. and Brenda K. held a fish fry and I think he had 25-30 pound of catfish. It was a real nice time.
The weather has been really nice and sunny but cool enough for chainsaw work. I cut wood today and worked up a sweat. I sure will like it this winter too. It's time for mushroom hunting. Maybe I will get a chance in the next few days to look for some,,,,and maybe even find a few!
Side note: We did try making some more Maple Syrup this year, but it was not a good year. The weather was all hot, then all cold, and then all hot again. So the sap didn't run right. We ended up with about 3 pints. But it's a good tasting 3 oints all the same. I ordered some real taps this year, so maybe next year we will really make some syrup! It's a fun family thing to do and it tastes great too.
I've been trading Forex exchange win some loose some. The potential to make a lot of money in that is there, but loosing it is there too. Hopefully I am getting better at trading. I like using the EA Jim has made and then usuing 1-2-3 to assist in closing stuborn trades.
I have not turned my ham radio on in months, nor fiddled with Ubunto. I don't have enough time. I am now a ministirial servant, a husband, and a father of 2- and have a lot more to do at the hall now. I have realy been blessed since loosing my job! Giving 10 minute talks is a lot easier than I thought it would be.
Well, I guess I will close this out. I could write all night, but that would probably be booring.
To all my friends and reader(s),
Agape
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