Making Pictures Smaller

Q: Once again Dave, you look to be having a blast, like little house on the prairie. If you want to shrink the size of your pics here's what I do. First start by saving the photos on your computer in "My Pictures". From My Pictures you can select any photo and from the LH column choose E-mail this file. You get 3 choices, Make pics smaller, Keep the original sizes or show more options. Choose show more options and choose the size you want. E-mail the file to yourself and you now have smaller files.

Asked by Terry Chancellor

A: Terry, my friend. How are you?

Thanks for the tip. I tried it and it works great.

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Bread And Bales

Q: HI David!Congratulations on your well! That is an occasion worth celebrating for sure. You mentioned on your blog that you would like whatever structure you put there to live in, should look like it belongs there. I totally agree. Have you looked into the process of encasing any premade structure with straw bales? It can be done very effectively!Jude

Asked by Jude

A: Hi Jude,

I kept the bread you gave me tightly wrapped and enclosed in the big ziplock. It lasted until last night, when I made a pocket PB&J with the heal. It was still wonderful bread.

No, I haven't given much (or any) thought to straw bale encasement of a premade home. I will give it some study.

One thing I know for sure is that it would require over-roofing to extend the eaves far enough to protect the bales and to maintain the aesthetics of the house. 

Ask David a question.

A Deep Well

This is what the unadorned top of a 900 foot deep well looks like. You'd never know from looking that it can sustain a 10 gallon-per-minute flow rate. Right now the water is standing from it's own pressure over 800 feet up in the well casing. When I turn the pump on, the water begins to flow in less than 5 seconds.



To this point it has cost $31,045 exactly. Now we add the holding tank (2500 gallons for $850) and the pressure system (price to be determined). Then comes the water supply pipe and the 3 foot deep trench in which it is required to be placed. Building codes, you know.

In the next picture we have throttled the flow back to 5 gpm because free flow without a pressure system installed kept popping the control box breaker.

It will take a few days for a well this deep to completely clean up and flow clear and clean. Then we will test the water for mineral content, acidity, alkalinity, drinkablity, etc. The first thing I am going to do today however, even before it flows clear, is to go over to Belen and buy one of those bathtub sized galvanized horse troughs, fill it up and take a soak. No, I am not going to heat it up first.

Another thing I did this morning was to make a screened vent in the corner where my cot goes.
On a hot day (coming up) the shack gets a little "primitive" and was in need of more air. That corner was a good choice. The vent started making cool air as soon as the cutout was removed.
The cutout is hinged at the bottom for "flow control". The vents on both ends of the shack under the rafters don't do much for cooling, but they do allow the hot air to escape. That little window looks pretty quaint, hey?

This is "Cot Corner".

Still actively looking for a house to put out here. Manufactured, modular, or double-wide as long as I can make it look like it belongs here.

The Tractor Is Home

A proper ranch has to have a tractor. We have ours. International Harvester 3414



It's not the biggest by far, but it is just about perfect for what I need. It doesn't have the Power Take Off installed yet, so I have ordered the kit (less than $400) and my neighbor Tim Hardin has offered to help me install it. That will give us post hole auger and backhoe mounting capability.

Now it's time to start the process of setting up our home.

Work in Progress

Q: Hi, Dave. Hope everything is moving along as well as the pics appear. Can't wait to see the finished products in person. Becca thinks we should send you an umbrella hat for working in the rain. Love ya,T and B

Asked by Tammy Griffiths

A: Hi T&B,

I don't think there will ever be a finished product; just a work in progress. Now that we have a really good well the actual work can begin.

It is raining and cold today, so the umbrella hat sounds like a good idea.

Love you too. 

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We Have A well

Q: Hi Dave,The place is starting to take shape. Did they finish drilling the well? Once the well is complete, will you be pouring the foundation for the Modular Home? I'm glad to see people are checking in on you frequently and inviting you for dinner. It sounds like your neighbors are very friendly and outgoing. We miss you here at the office. Your seat is vacant in case you want to come back. keep up the good work and be safe. Talk to ya soon! Mark

Asked by Mark Sullivan

A: Hi Mark,

Yes, we hit water this morning. 3 to 5 gallons per minute at 820 feet and another 3 or so at 880. I authorized drilling to 900 feet for good packing depth. thats when we hit the second stream at 880. That was more than twice as deep as I thought I was prepared to go, but it's like Las Vegas: if you lose you double down. Sometimes you win and sometimes you just lose twice as much!

Yes, also on the house foundation. Now that we have a well, we know where to put the house and the power lines, and my big metal building.

I guess I have to say I don't think I could ever come back to the desk job. With the work, my strength is returning, I'm losing weight (I'm in the last hole in my work belt) and I am sleeping better than I have in years, even on this stupid camp cot.

I'm leaving tonight to go get my tractor. More pictures of it on Monday.

Miss you too. 

 

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Raftering In The Rain "Cool"

At first I tried to stay dry, but as John Houseman used to say,"That Don't feed the bulldog." So I put on my rain hat and a long-sleeved khaki shirt and just got it done.

Drilling And Decking

The drilling rig arrived promptly at 07:15. They had departed from Pietown, NM at 03:30. Setup was a choreographed routine, and the bit began to turn less than an hour after arrival.
First day was 280 feet through several strata of hard rock. Tomorrow or the day after will hit 400+ where the good water is expected to be. Keep your fingers crossed.


On a lighter note I'm now playing with a full deck and a good set of steps that double as a stoop and a workbench. Raftering and roofing begin today.

At Last , A Tractor

I found it. It's in Nunn, Colorado, but it's the right tractor at the right price. I'll go get it next weekend.


It's a 1969 International 3414 diesel tractor (40 HP). Front end loader, ready to accept backhoe attachment. Hydrostatic transmission works great. Engine has been overhauled and has very few hours on it since. 3-point with a hydraulic adjustable two-way top link. New batteries (1 year old). Ready to work, fires every time, includes a box blade shown in the picture.

The Rain Came Down In Buckets

Before sundown the sky was full in all directions of those "isolated" T-storms that forecasters talk about so casually. Then about 7:30 one of them parked right over the top of my shack and poured it's heart out. I guarantee you that if I could have captured just half the water that fell within 100 feet of me last night I wouldn't need a well.

All my deck posts look like they've been in the ground for years, and the odd thing is there is no mud. The ground is still the dark color of wet, but nothing sticks to my shoes.
It's a good thing my generators are good quality. They both tested out fine despite being thoroughly soaked.
Through the powerful resource of Craigslist, I found a heavy duty trailer capable of carrying a medium sized tractor (when I find one); so yesterday, I drove up to Tijeres and towed it back to the ranch. It is well used and ugly, in the "Western" way, but it is fully functional and very well mannered on tow. I am pleased. It will serve for many years.

Even though it is the 4th of July, I've got my work cut out for me today. Every thing that got soaked last night has got to be laid out to dry and then re-stored. I have four more 12x16 blue/silver tarps that I'll put to use. If the rains come again this afternoon I will be better prepared.

Q: I called today aabout 10 AM and asked if you would be interested in a home cooked meal. We, Jude and I, live a couple of miles East off of Hwy. 60 in Loma Parda on 41 acres. We are 60+ and have done all the work on our place by ourselves with a little help from friends on the harder stuff. It is a strawbale of two different types of construction. Split level. We have a wonderful well, shop/barn, 1500 sq.ft. house and an rv hookup area and a few other ammenities. Call me when you catch a breath.

Asked by Roy Kirby

A: Roy, thanks for the invite to a home cooked meal. Lasagna, home made bread, and civilized company. Sounds great. 5pm Saturday is on.

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Q: I'm glad to read that your doing well and are having frequent visitors. Visitors are a good thing, they keep from forgeting that your retired and keep your pace healthy. take care and post photos

Asked by Terry Chancellor

A: Terry, good to hear your gravelly voice. I will post pictures if you can get one of the young geniuses at CDG to tell me what program to use to make them smaller. Most of mine are coming out at 1.5 MB. Is it the camera setting or something else I'm doing wrong. It ain't tech writing for pete's sake.

Ask David a question.