Govt Stimulation burning a hole in my pocket.

[CrealCritter]

Last night we experienced our first power outage. Funny how country life works... My neighbor across the road, who grew up in the house we bought, called his brother who lives up the road at the second curve and used to work for the electric co-op who's son now works at the electric co-op. My neighbor's brother's son said a transformer blew at the substation. My neighbor John waited for me to come out of my house. After I sent his wife this text.

You know instead of texting me back, he waits in the pitch black for me to come out with my flash light. I hear John holler from across the road. "Jeff?" I holler back Yes John. then he hollers back, not the new light, transformer blew at the sub-station. Brother's son and grandson are working on it now, won't have power until in the morning. You all-right? Need anything? I holler back thanks for the info, we're good. He hollers back, OK then, goodnight see you in the morning. I holler back, yep Goodnite, holler if you all need anything. He hollers back, will do.

I tell you what... I felt like I was one of the the Walton's. Our neighbor is perhaps the best one we have ever had. Not up on technology but that's ok meanwhile I go to the electric co-op web site and look at the outages page. Yep sure enough power outage being worked on. But I got more and better information from hollering across the road than I did the website

I took full advantage of the pitch black and clear sky to stargaze. How awesome it was too.

 

[CrealCritter]

I kicked it this weekend with my wife's help. Moved all the wiring in "the man cave" over to the new 200 amp service.

I got lights up on the outside of "the man cave". Lights up the walks, the driveway and I have one pointed at the barn door. I searched around for LED floodlights that were not plastic junk. I found some nice heavy duty powder coated aluminum outdoor fixtures, made in the USA at Menards for $12.44, Sigma Electric Outdoor Security Flood Light Kit.

Comes with everything you need minus the wire ofcourse. I highly recommend this kit, they are heavyduty. I called our electric co-op and they told me they partnered with Dollar Tree and have 2 packs of 650 lumans indoor/outdoor led flood lights at their stores for a dollar.

So I have less than $20.00 (after taxes ) in each light and the should last a good long time. Not some cheap plastic made in China BS, that is ruined come the first hail storm. Yippie no more flashlights needed when exiting the back door of the house.

Also trimmed a lot of trees, what I couldn't get from the ground with my pole saw, I got from a ladder, when that didn't work I got on the roof of the house.

My son and his soon to be wife, came over Saturday even and camped out by the pond. We had a legit campout with fire and fishing. That was cool, I really needed to just relax, I didn't get to sleep untill 3 AM.

I also cut down 3 flipping satellite dishes out of the yard at ground level.

 

[baymule]

You sure are enjoying your new home. I am beyond happy for you.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Only thing worse than that is having a mouse run up the INSIDE of your pant leg. Ask me how I know!!!!

 

[CrealCritter]

This weekend more tree trimming, sealed all the ductwork in "the man cave" and moved us off the overhead wire that was powering the garage, "the man cave" and the barn. I haven't cut the wire down because there's two poles and guide wires that have to be cut first. But the wire is dead now I tell you what working with mine wire ain't no joke... That stuff is hard to work with. Plus it has braided metal in with the cable I guess for pulling and it also has smaller guage wire in several pairs like for telephone or intercom maybe??? I'm just using it for 100 amp service.

I'm sure am glad I went though the duct work. None of the boots were sealed and over 1/2 of the flex pipes was torn where they were not careful putting them on the boots. If I were the one who paid to have the unit installed, I would have bounced the clowns who put it in, right out the door on their heads. their tools would have been thrown out the door behind them. I'm I tightwad when it comes to stuff like this. Do it right or get out. Leaky ductwork is just throwing money away.

I also replaced the frame around the garage door that was dry rotted with pressure treated southern yellow pine. Then I painted it. I also tighten up the roof tin in preparation for winter winds that howl.

 

[CrealCritter]

Exceptionally beautiful Sunset and Moon rising this evening. Both pictures taken as quick as I could walk a couple of acres from the front porch to the back of the barn.

Gen 1:16
West

South East

 

[wyoDreamer]

The neighbor across the street grew up in the house we bought, it is neat to listen to his stories about the place.

 

[CrealCritter]

More "man cave" stuff Rural King had a Rudy special on 4' shop lights. These things are strong, 5500 lumens with color of 5000K, which is basically white but only consumes 50 watts or less than 1/2 amp at 110 volts. Thats less than a 60 watt lightbulb. So I bought 10 of them.

Now how to hang them??? I came up with a quick recessed frame made out of some 2x4-10 that I had laying around. I haven't used my tablesaw in a long time but the math came back to me real quick. Basically the frames were made with the fence set at 1 1/2 and 1/4 inches and adjustment of the blade height. Easy smeazy plus they look pretty good recessed into the ceiling. 8 of these bad boys, lights up the 23 x 27 multi-purpose room in "the man cave"

Three construction screws hold the frame to a ceiling ceiling joist and the light floats in the frame held by gravity. I wired each light to have it's own recipical so if one dies it's easy to push it up into the ceiling unplug it and replace with a new one.

Light on

With wiring (14 guage) recipicals, switch, boxes, frame the lumber and a little brain power, I have a very lightly lit huge room for about 20.00 a fixture. You can't beat that with a stick. Plus they will be easy on the electric bill. I consider it a win.

Light and frame. I highly recommend these rural King lights. But wait until they go on sale, it's even a better deal.

 

[CrealCritter]

More stuff for the cave. For $150.00, I couldn't pass, kind of 50'ish style, but I'm OK with that.

Base Cabinets & Countertops.

Matching Upper cabinet.

 

[farmerjan]

Come on @wyoDreamer you don't like John Deere colors ???