Our Dog Brandy Died Today

She came to live with us on July 4, 2002, when she was already 7 years old. Half Pitt Bull and half Boxer, she was at first very aggressive and territorial, she barked wildly at everyone and everything that passed in front of her house. But she learned quickly and she wanted to please us so much that her personality changed in just a matter of weeks to docile and friendly.

She loved kids and tolerated the most outrageous handling from them. When our grandchildren or the neighbors children were here, Brandy often wound up sleeping under a pile of kids like puppies do. She was gentle and loving and protective of them. In the last three years she was a frequent overnight guest of the family next door, and made it quite clear that they were members of her pack. Three days ago, when she barely had the strength to move, she made her way next door to see the kids and lay on the floor with them for an hour.

This morning her strength had left her completely. We sat with her, stroking her and telling her how much we loved her and what a great companion she was. She thumped her tail a few times, closed her eyes and went to sleep. We had already made arrangements with the vet to do what was necessary, so my wife and I made her comfortable in the back floor of our mini-van and took her to be put to sleep for the last time.

My wife had always been afraid of animals until Brandy came to live with us, but the last six years with Brandy as her companion and teacher have worked a wonderful change in her attitude, her understanding of a dogs language, and her appreciation for the kind of love that a good dog has to give. Brandy will be greatly missed.
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When Contractors Are Good

What is so cool is when the contractors you trust with your money actually pro actively do their jobs even when you're not there to see to it.
The CO-OP staking technician Ted Mosley called me to say the trench from the last pole to the power panel was not deep enough (27 inches instead of the required 36 inches - we hit a very large boulder) and when the CO-OP puts the 40 foot conduit in that trench next Thursday it will have to be covered with concrete one foot thick, and then have the dirt built up with fill to meet code.

To save additional bucks and contractor fuel and time, we agreed that I would back fill all the trenches to code depth using my tractor and fill dirt that I can scrape up from several places near by. The stuff that came out of the trenches is so rocky it's really not suitable to go back in on top of the conduit.

The section of trench directly in line with the double conduit in the picture is too shallow to meet code, even though the trenching crew spent all day long with a jack hammer trying to break through.

I called Frank Sedillo (Price Right Electrical), and put him in touch with Mosley.
They discussed what needed to be done and agreed on a schedule when each would do their part. So the poles and the wire will go in next Thursday, and the concrete will be added on Friday, and I don't even have to be there to ramrod the operation.
Electricity on our place will be MAJOR progress. Almost on par with the well.
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How Rare Is The Warm Welcome

It has got to be one of the rarest experiences to be so warmly welcomed at a place you used to work. I was given that gift yesterday by my friends at Continental Data Graphics, where I worked for the last two years of my Boeing career.

I had no idea that what we are doing out there on the land would strike a sympathetic chord in the hearts of so many. Thank you.

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Some good news: The original contractor that came out to the ranch to bid on the concrete pad and raising the metal building is back in the picture with some new and money saving ideas. Possibly the potential for him to do the house foundation and the ETS chamber as well as the building piqued his interest.
He promised a new proposal with several options today by email.
I'm not getting my hopes up too high yet, but I am encouraged.
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It may interest some of you geeks out there to know that I am transitioning to the Linux operating system, and alternating between the Ubuntu 8.04, and the PCLinuxOS 2007 distros. So far both work equally well and I haven't found anything that I can't do as well as XP Pro. I'm using Ubuntu to write this blog.
Both distros detected and configured my networks (multiple) without hesitation, provided me with free applications for browsers and word processors, and let me use Windows NTFS files where needed.
The Linux world is full of free software for just about any application you could want.

I started trying Linux after I bought a refurbished HP that had Vista Home Premium installed. It would not run TurboTax 2007 and I almost lost my last four years tax records because of it. I thought it would be a simple thing to install XP on it and start over, but HP deliberately does not provide XP drivers for their Pavilion Slimline computers just so you can not go back to a decent operating system. Not only that but it would not accept another version of VISTA either.

Rather than have the new computer become a doorstop, I booted from a CD of PCLinuxOS 2007, and I was on the internet in less than three minutes. I was pretty amazed at that, so I went ahead and did a complete installation from the CD, set up my email with Firefox, and began restoring my file system, using software provided by various Linux archives on the internet. It works for me.
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Mackaela, The Cows, And Lunch

Q: Hi Dave, Do you need a special license to drive the truck and trailer you just got? When do you think it will too cold to stay? Seeing the BEEF drink from your bathtub, do you plan on raising cattle in the future? Let me know when your back and have time, we'll do lunch and you can tell your adventure story. Take careTerry

Asked by Terry

A: Hi Terry,

I have a commercial license, but that's only necessary for over 26000 pounds. A 28 foot trailer and a day cab, 2 axle truck would have to be really loaded to get that heavy. I'll put the required "NOT FOR HIRE" signs on the rig to avoid the attention of the DOT and not have to stop at weight and inspection stations.

Probably around the end of October will see me out of here for the winter. The only way I could stay longer would be if I can get the metal barn up and enclosed and heated. The shack just won't do in it's present configuration.

I'm pretty sure we will have some cows and horses to keep the grass mowed, but 40 acres in normal times won't support more than a few.

I'll definitely be on for lunch within a week or two after I get back.

Ask David a question.

Signing Off For One Month

The time has come for me to go home for a month to recharge my batteries, and plan the next phase of making a home in the high boondocks.
My wife, Sharon, and I will return to New Mexico on September 7. We will go up to the Karsten factory in ABQ, finalize the options on our modular home, and make the deposit to start the building process.
She will fly back to California a week later and I'll stay here to finish the barn, build the well house, and see to the completion of the fencing.
When it gets too cold to sleep in my shack, I'll head home for the winter.
I'll try to add something of interest periodically while I'm home, so I won't lose my BLOG space.

Mackaela Hooks Up

Part of the early morning view from approximately the height of our future south east facing deck. I would like the deck to be about three feet higher than this sight line.
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Why yes, I do like sunrise pictures. Why do you ask? I even think they're worth getting up for.

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And the damned cattle think my well trough is their new watering hole. One Hereford range bull challenged me this morning, but a good whack with a two by four changed his mind.

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Mackaela and the Reefer hooked up like they had met before.
I pulled up a pre-trip check list on the internet, and the rig (and air brakes) passed. Amazing! I did have to clean and re grease the 5th wheel and the release mechanism for it to work smoothly. Just about a 30 minute job.
I did the hook up trucker style with a solid bang and then yanked on the trailer before releasing the trailer brakes. I got good air pressure with no leaks (all four new grommets this morning) and the trailer brakes released on command. The lessons at truck driving school must have been good ones for me to have remembered so much.



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AND THEN there's the occasional sunset that speaks for itself.

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Next Link In The Chain Comes Home

I waited twenty minutes for a sunrise shot this morning but the sky color just never developed.

I can't say I was disappointed though; the quality of the morning air is just not equaled anywhere.
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Another link in the chain of actions and equipment is this 1980 Mack B646, 2 axle, small displacement diesel, 5 speed. It will haul our household goods to New Mexico, and will have paid for itself three times over in money saved by not dealing with any moving company.

My friend, and distant cousin, Tim Hardin looked it over throughly with a mechanics critical eye and we were both surprised at the good condition: 6 new tires, 4 new batteries, new clutch, starter, and alternator. It looks like it has another 400,000 miles left in it. And it was ridiculously inexpensive.
Tim heads for our place from the little village of Escobosa, NM. (about 35 miles north of Mountainair). I followed along to look it over on the road and to take pictures. Nothing came loose or fell off, and all the lights worked as required.
The DOT number tag on the door will come off and be replaced with the "NOT FOR HIRE" sign that will fend off "Smokey's" unwanted attention.
Crossing the creek at Tim and Wendy's place half mile from our gate, passing standing water from the recent rains. The view of the back of the truck cab oddly resembles the same view of a 1951 Ford pickup I used to have. Some experienced truckers would refer to this model Mack as a "yard Dog".
Hey, Bobby, did you ever see a Mack or a Stirling with the real tall long throw clutch pedal? This has one. Takes some getting used to!
Inside the gate at our place; a little over a quarter mile from the shack. Green ain't it?
"Mackaela" in her parking place (rough roads and all) in one rugged piece.
As soon as I replace the Gladhand Grommets (trailer air brake connections) and hoses (just to be safe) I'll hook her up to the trailer and start practicing. I have my own 40 acre "backing yard".
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Some more views of the area around where the house will be:
It is as level and easiest of access for placing the modular home as any location on the ranch.

Looking northeast from the power panel to the well house pad; a distance of 105 feet.

And straight north from the power panel to the metal building site; 200 feet exactly.
The 2500 gallon black reservoir tank will be located elsewhere. Empty it's very easy to push around with the tractor.
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Tomorrow morning at dawn I'll drag a ladder down to the house site (20 feet left of the well house pad in the above picture) and try to duplicate the morning view we'll get from the south deck of the house when it's built. I want you all to see what I see.
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Trenching And Progress

Here's a couple of shots of the electricians doing their thing. They completely tore up the rental trenching machine in our rocky ground.
The service panel will take the place of a temporary pole with a meter, and provide the connecting point for the CO-OP power lines.
This long trench will provide power to the big metal building. They said that since they already had the trencher on site they would do all the trenches for the single price they had quoted me for just the house and the well. Not a bad deal.

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And a shot of the header beam for my carport rafters. I did some painting also to protect the raw wood against the UV.
The shelves on the deck are the permanent cabinet I built to house my bank of six deep cycle batteries. The cabinet will have doors before it is finished.
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And once again I have found a concrete contractor. He's is doing the bid and said he will bring it to me on Monday. I wait with fingers crossed.

NOTE: 30 August 2008-- My hopes for results from this guy were dashed when he came back with an outrageously high bid. I'll just keep looking.
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Sister's little parcel of land in New Mexico

Q: Hi Brother, no question....except, did you get my last question? I'm really enjoying your blog and seriously considering coming to see my little parcel, don't want to sell it anymore. Love and blessings, Sister

Asked by Jean

A: No, I guess I didn't. My profile says I have answered 100% of the questions I have received. Why don't you send me a description (legal location) and I'll see if I can find it and send you a picture. I'm over that way once or twice a week. Send it on email, not ASKABLOGR. That way it will remain private.

Ask David a question.

Baby Got New Shoes

It was pretty obvious that new tractor tires were advisable. They spun easily in the dry dirt, and I probably contributed to their early retirement with my less than delicate practice sessions. With winter coming on and the forecast probability of heavy snow, the aggressive tread is more of a necessity. They will be filled with a 50:50 solution of Ethylene Glycol and water (from our well).

The "BEFORE" condition:



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And the "AFTER" condition:
And back on the trailer ready to be tied down for the return trip home.
I have already gotten the box blade re installed. It was much easier as this time I was using the right controls to position the supports and hydraulic cylinders.
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Brake Caution Notes

Q: Re. Trailer brakes: These brake air cylinders can separate with great force when manually releasing the brakes. Make sure that the cylinder and the cylinder clamp are not badly corroded, before you crank down on the release bolt. Make sure that you are to the side of the cylinder when you tighten the release bolt.

Asked by bobby

A: I got under it and it looks really clean and almost new.

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Ask David a question.

Trailer Brakes

Q: Hello David,I like this photo much better, however, you do need a shotgun over your shoulder. And where's the huntin dawg? Re the air brakes; There are two cylindrical air chambers, usually on the aft side of the axle. These are the actuators. In the center of each chamber is a hole. Install a long bolt (don't remember the bolt size, a big un) in this hole and run it in to release the brakes. BE CAREFUL, THESE THINGS ARE LOADED TO THE HURT YOU POSITION!

Asked by bobby

A: Thanks, Bobby. I will be extra careful. The shotgun and the hunting dog are on the agenda for next year.

Ask David a question.

ELECTRICITY TO OUR PLACE

Frank Sedillo, the electrician, just left and we have a deal. He will install everything to which the CO-OP needs to connect THIS FRIDAY. Not "maybe next week" or "as soon as I can get to it" but this coming Friday.
All underground cable in PVC pipe to the house, the well, the ETS/heat pump, and the pad location for the metal building. He's bringing the trencher. He is familiar with how hard the ground is, and he is ready for it.
He was here exactly at 3;30pm, just as he said he would be. You know I consider punctuality to be a good sign. I guess I am pleased.
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After The Rain, The Lurid Sunrise

It rained long and hard last night, with the attendant high-country artillery barrage of thunder and lightning. Many of the strikes were within a half mile. I counted zero a dozen times and "one" a few dozen times.
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And the trailer arrived this morning. It's too wet to move it into it's final position for convenience of loading and the air brakes are locked.

Hey, Mark ask Bobby if he remembers how to unlock the air brakes of a Utility brand tandem trailer. I sure don't.



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Our Gopher Snake and Car Port Posts

A four foot long gopher snake came to visit Tim Hardin and me this afternoon. He stayed for a few minutes and was not the least bit shy. He looked very well fed, and he certainly was minding his own business, so we let him pass unmolested. The dogs, Russell, the red Pitt Bull, and Rocky, the gray Akita also minded when they were told to leave the snake alone.

I thought that alone was worthy of comment. Both dogs simply acted like the snake had disappeared and showed no further interest in it. These are "country dogs" that wandered in after being abandoned on the forest road. Tim and Wendy made them welcome and gave them status in the "pack" of their animals.

Only a little "attitude adjustment" was necessary regarding their relationship to the chickens, Pea Hens, and the geese. Most dogs believe that fowl are Gods gift to the canine world, and have to be educated to the contrary.

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Also I have some good pictures of the first two posts in the ground for the carport. The only significance being that the concrete in which the posts are set was made with good water from our own well.
The water in the bucket is very clear and it was dipped right from the 217 gallon tank next to the well head.
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The electrician will be here tomorrow afternoon to begin the process of installing the temporary post and meter so the CO-OP can bring in the power lines. We are going to have a triple drop 325 amp service; one line to the well pump, one line to the house, and one line to the ETS unit/heat pump installation.
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My Email

Q: I got a note from Othell recently and got thinking that its been a long time since I've had comms from the south and west. Lacking email addresses, which I hope you'll provide, I did a name search on Google and, lo and behold, there you are terraforming New Mexico, white F150 and all. Its a little foreign to a Philadelphia city dweller but it does look appealing. I'll hold you to your invitation when you get the house built.

Asked by Dave Doler Jr

A: Of course. Mine is <dfdoler@gmail.com> Send me a note to which I can reply and I'll give you Laura's email.

Ask David a question.

A Note From My Son

Q: well, you do look like you're having fun.

Asked by Dave Doler Jr.

A: I certainly am, and any time you feel like seeing the wide open spaces you are most welcome. By next spring we will have a new house built and be prepared to receive. My wife would love to meet you.

How did you come across my blog? 

Ask David a question.