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w_r_ranch

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Rainy still, 52 degrees...lots of lightning but only 0.57" thus far...

Research custom built weather-proof pad locks most of the day...
 
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Mr_Yan

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We got close to 2 inches of rain since Monday early morning and frozen ground doesn't leave much room for rain to go. So yesterday before work I walked down to the laundry area in the basement and found that we had water coming in again. Luckily it seems to have stopped quickly.
 
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Mr_Yan

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Incurred my first fine on my library card in about a decade. 25 cents. Forgot to return A Random Walk Down Wall Street yesterday. My wife renewed it online today.

We're pretty heavy library users, both online (ebook) and dead tree editions. In the last ten years we've only run up $2 in fines.
 

w_r_ranch

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Still raining here (0.16" thus far) & 55 degrees. This was getting old, but it finally stopped about 1400 hrs...

Got my wheelbarrow & combined topsoil, peat & perlite into my seed starting mix in the garage. I'll start getting the seed flats ready tomorrow although I still have 13 days to go before planting (yeah, I'm bored).
 
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w_r_ranch

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Made pizza dough & sauce for tonight's supper.

Started filling the 3" pots for the seed flats. Six flats down, six to go...

Seed_Pots_012017.jpg
 
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wolffman

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Some moron just rear ended my wife's car right in front of the house. Pushed her into a ditch with about 2 feet of water in it. Great.
 
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Mr_Yan

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Nice warm spring morning here. About 45°F with fog

Only 16 weeks until typical frost free date

Lots of leafs down on the lawn hope they're not smothering the grass too wet to to anything though
 

w_r_ranch

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Finished filling the seed pots & then started dividing/repotting the ferns in the hanging baskets.

Refilled the bird feeders & put out another suet block per the bird lady's request.

Ordered 12 custom-built weatherproof padlocks based on the 83WP/53 series (to include 'bump-proof' keyways, closed shackle bodies & boron-carbide shackles). In retrospect, I should have done this years ago.
83WP_53_ Extreme.jpg
 
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w_r_ranch

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Wind is crazy today, we actually have white-caps in the tanks (21MPH constant, with gusts of 33MPH)!!! This front blew in about 1900 last night.

Made bread.

Continued repotting the ferns.
 

w_r_ranch

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Yep, the winds died down & are gone this morning (now only 1.6MPH here).

Finished repotting the ferns.

Thawed out the Buckboard bacon (cured pork shoulders) this morning & they're soaking in fresh water before I get them trussed up in butcher string (to keep them formed) in preparation for smoking tomorrow.

Put out 3 rolls of hay for the cattle.

Replanted radishes (the last big freeze killed them).
 
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majorcatfish

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last Wednesday put on the polar suit and climbed into the chest freezer, <it was time to clean it out it was getting full>
found a chuck roast and assorted other packs of beef so Saturday made another wicked pot of stew. while climbing out found a couple zip lock bags full of smoked turkey meat from thanksgiving. made a big bowl of smoked turkey salad for sandwiches,
DSC_0006.JPG
there was no leftovers...... good way to use up all the dark meat...
 

w_r_ranch

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Too windy here to smoke the bacon, I'll try again tomorrow...

Repotted the chives & the spider plants.
 
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w_r_ranch

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Still windy here, so I started smoking the Buckboard Bacon in the Weber Kettle instead of the big smoker (that being the case, I'll have to do it in 2 batches). The first one went on at 0800 hrs (at 225 degrees using a mix of post oak & hickory) & I pulled it at 1230 hrs when it hit an internal temperature of 170 degrees. The second batch is also now done. Tomorrow I'll slice it & Mrs. Ranch can then vacuum pack it. It was a long windy day.

Buckboard_Bacon1_012517.jpg

Buckboard_Bacon2_012517.jpg
Watered the ferns in the hanging baskets.
 
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majorcatfish

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the "bark" is some of the best tidbits once you get done smoking of any cut of meat.
 

w_r_ranch

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Ran around this morning doing chores, paid the property taxes & picked up the seed potatoes.

The last gate opener got installed today, now all the gates have them & Mrs. Ranch is happy.

Got the chicken fajitas seasoned up & ready for supper tonight. Also diced up the jalapenos & added them to the pinto beans.
 
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majorcatfish

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this weekends menu has been planed since its going to be chilly. a big pot of soup " lentil, sausage and kale"with homemade bread.then sunday dw found a quiche recipe "steak and cheddar" sounds good have not had quiche in ages...
 

w_r_ranch

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Watered the ferns & moved them back into the greenhouse. Turned the heater back on as it is forecast to be back in the 30s tonight.

Cut 4 lbs of pork into cubes & seasoned it up for 'Carnitas' that we'll have for supper tomorrow.

Carnitas_Supper1.jpg
Since it was cloudless, we watched the ISS fly directly over the house before supper... it wasn't as bright as Venus, but there was no mistaking it as it's moving at 17K+ MPH. I have always enjoyed watching the sky & pointing out the planets, constellations & different satellites out for my wife's amusement (she rarely looks up).
 
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Mr_Yan

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Ended up in the ER with my middle kid last night. We went to the urgent care clinic first where the doc took a short look at him found abdominal pain we didn't know about and said we needed to get to the ER.

We have some wonderful neighbors who dropped everything at our phone call and came to our home and watched kids 1 and 3 from about 6 pm to midnight. I actually got to know these neighbors because of gardening. He maintains a nice veg garden while both he and she do the landscaping. We don't have any family in this state, or even a bordering state, so we've had to build up a "network".

Remember guys -- regardless of where you live urban, suburban, rural -- if you don't know and have neighbors you just have a hood.
 
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ksk

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Ran around this morning doing chores, paid the property taxes & picked up the seed potatoes.

The last gate opener got installed today, now all the gates have them & Mrs. Ranch is happy.

Got the chicken fajitas seasoned up & ready for supper tonight. Also diced up the jalapenos & added them to the pinto beans.
Hey Ranch ! Did you buy your seed potatoes from Colorado Feed and if so, what are you planting? Thanks..
 

w_r_ranch

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Yes. Red Pontiacs... these are my "go to" potatoes because of the productivity & long storage properties. They are chitting now (forcing the 'eyes'). In a couple of weeks I'll divide them, dust with powdered sulphur & let them scab over a couple of days before planting. If the weather holds, I'll plant 90 of them between Feb. 14th - 21st which should yield about 350#s (+/- 40#).

If you've never grown them before, refer to: How To Grow Potatoes 101
 
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