Stewart Creek Somethings

Old wood burned, now just need to remove all the old fencing and metal scraps.

It was supposed to be Spray Day!  I need to spray the upper prime field with 2-4-D and the driveway with Round Up but the rain kept coming.  In an effort to get something done outside I decided that burning in the rain was a great idea.  My biggest problem with fire seems to be that it burns things up and likes to spread.  Rain is great for that problem.  I have been attempting to plan my burning times to coincide with very wet spells.  This was the plan.  I knew I was getting low on propane in the 20 gallon burn tank but I figured there was enough to get my fire on.  First thing was appropriate fire attire.  After the fiasco with synthetic clothing burning me, secondary to accidentally lighting myself on fire, I vowed to wear only natural fibers.  I put on blue jeans, a cotton T-shirt, tall leather boots with wool socks and a wool long sleeve shirt.  I tied a cotton kerchief around my neck as the fire can get pretty hot and a cotton ball cap.  I emptied my pockets of everything but chapstick and a knife.  No pesky plastic watch or wallet.  Second thing was to locate a fire lighting stick somewhere in the house.  I never found one, so I extended the search to the old house and found two hanging from a nail.  They don’t last, I put them in my back pocket and after about the third time jumping into the tractor seat they break in half.  I have yet to run out of fuel in a single starter.  Armed with flame I headed out to the machine shop to load the propane tank into the bucket on the tractor.  I got the tank onto the bucket, then lifted the bucket enough to use a chain and attach the tank from the top, bottom and sides so that no matter what I did the tank would not fall out of the bucket (I have still not beat the dent out of my hood from the first tank fall).  I then wrapped the hose around the tank in preparation for heading out to burn, and that was when I discovered that the nozzle on my torch had been stepped on by something, most likely a cow and was broken.  I needed a new one.  I jumped into the car and sped into Pendleton to BUY so I could BURN.  I had to ask at D and B for assistance and when he took me over to the torch section the only thing was the dinky little ice melter torches and a 6 foot Fire wand for $200.  I explained that I wanted the three foot wand for $100.  We found the open spot on the wall and the computer was consulted.  The computer stated they had one in the back, there was one hidden in the back and I grabbed it and headed out to pay.  The checker rung me all up and I reached for my wallet, my nonexistent wallet.  I had to ask her to put it to the side so I could run home and get my wallet.  Another round trip and I was back with my debit card and on my way with a new torch.  This entire process cut off 2 hours of burn time. 

Corner property getting cleaned up.

I started burning out by the cattle guard.  The weeds were obscuring our metal rim fence and filling up the drainage space under the cattle guard.  I burned all those up and then went down to four corners.  I wanted to get the 1 acre plot on the corner all cleaned up so I can keep the weeds down and eventually get the fence fixed.  I need to add in at least three metal rock cribs to the corner due to all the rocks and the lack of fence.  I can get away with using cattle panel as a gate as we never use the gate but 1-2 times/year. This is not our property but it needs to be cleaned up.  Ted used to maintain the fence and weeds in exchange for using it as grazing.  The animals are doing a good job of keeping the weeds down, they just need access to this area.  So getting an outside fence up is one of my goals this year.  I burned the entire area, there was a lot of old wood laying around buried in the grass and this all went into a pile.  I also added all the large weeds that I could find to the pile.  There was also an old wooden building that was rotten with only one side still off the ground.  It was a haven for stinging nettles I built it up and lit it on fire.  This made two piles that I could keep tossing wood and weeds onto for the duration.  The wind started picking up after I had both piles going so I had to quit lighting weeds on fire.  I stayed out baby sitting the fire until after dark.  We had a large rain storm come through in the night and put both piles out. 

It did die down eventually

Our walk in closet is now useable.  We have started to sort our clothes and discard everything that does not fit.  I can no longer button the collar on my dress shirts, a 16 1/2 is too small.  I discovered this two months ago when I had to wear a tie for three days in the same week.  I got some clear plastic bins for the shelves and was told that we would be buying some fancy cloth bins for the new closet.  No plastic allowed.  We also bought a brand new silverware set for 12!  Plus, we got rid of the four other parts of ones we were using and now only have one set.  It is amazing.  I suggested we now actually get grown up dishes!  I am not sure if I can handle being an adult. 
I had to get new (used) tires for the pickup after an oil change discovery by the child.  I knew I needed new tires last year but was putting it off.  So when they changed the tires I asked her to find out if there was an exhaust leak.  Yep, big exhaust leak.  They also said I needed new shocks (told me that last year also), so I had her order new shocks.  I drove said pickup home Friday evening and got out smelling gasoline.  I figured it was the exhaust leak and looked under the pickup.  Nope, gas leaking all over the ground, I have a fuel leak.  So tomorrow I will call the repair shop and have them fix the fuel leak and the lack of turn signals (over one year broken), then we can get the new shocks installed.  Once the shocks are on I will get the exhaust repaired/replaced.  I am hoping to just get a couple of sections cut out and replaced.  The stereo is not working at all now but truly it is nonessential.  It looks like the pickup will be getting the necessary upgrades this year. 

Walk in closet nearing completion. Clothing being added.