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GOOD THURSDAY MORNIN' 5:29A 12/31/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
###################### LAST DAY OF 2020 #####################
2020 is now "Yesterday" -- the good news is that we made it through and hopefully America will see a new tomorrow in 2021. I feel the hope of a NEW YEAR and I pray a blessing on family and friends. As I spend this last day of 2020 I will reflect on this incredible year and use the 'lessons learned" to try a build that "better tomorrow" by living a "better today" because NOW is the only TIME we have!!!! Tomorrow never comes and yesterday will always be just a memory -- If we are living in our yesterdays or wishing for something different from our tomorrows and not living in the HOPE OF TODAY that we are gifted with every day, then we are doomed to regret and disappointment -- Joy comes in facing and accepting whatever comes with the new day that is called NOW -- Shawshank Redemption has a quote: "Get busy living---" and NOW is the time to do it!!!
Wednesday was a bright beautiful day we managed to get Paul out into the sunshine. We took the opportunity to put up a new US FLAG and it looks really good. I burned trash and made a "can & trash" run to the dump just to be driving my T100 around -- IT STARTED EVERY TIME -- its an old truck but it is MY TRUCK and I enjoy driving it -- after lunch and a quick nap I made a run out on the 4x4 and today I am going to take the T100 out and see how it negotiates the outer trail -- just to be driving of course!
Little Pond is full pool again!
Sunrise 12/30/2020
Dandy and Takota
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GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNIN' 6:19A 12/30/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Tuesdays are just not Tuesdays without family night and 2020 ended without Family Night again -- we started Tuesday nights in January 2005 and we missed more Tuesday nights in 2020 than we had in the previous 14 years -- Covid was meant to isolate and it has done its job! If America does not unite under doing "What's Right" and return to being "One Nation Under God" we will have to live with Covid forever. Masks and quarantines are making us sicker than covid, we are killing ourselves by obeying the "Controllers" - It must end in 2021!
Sorry bout that rant but I hate it when the devil messes with my family! The good news yesterday was that B&R called and they have my T100 running again so Deb and Sadie took me to pick it up and I know it is an "old" truck but it is "family" too and I was really happy to drive it back home in the beautiful sunshine we had yesterday.
See ya
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GOOD TUESDAY MORNIN' 5:30A 12/29/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Monday was not freezing so after Deb and I went to Oak Ridge hunting for "trivets" to protect Peggy's dining room table from hot, cold, or wet objects I got to work outside a little while Deb and Peg went to take care of Peggy's doctor appointments. My first task outside was to locate my cold weather gear that I had packed up and had moved out to a storage area out in the pole barn and of course it was down in the bottom of a stack of boxes but I finally found it so when the next cold snap hits I will be warm and toasty!
It was in the upper 40s so I grabbed a rake and went to move rock that has mounded up in the driveway, that rock was a mistake and should have been used for drainage ditches and not to put on top of the driveway portion that runs from the concrete to the barn --- when I get a front loader I will move it to the washouts by the concrete portion of the driveway coming up the hill.
Today I am going to work on organizing the common area "garage area" and start insulation on the big shop doors -- the plan is to put a small entry door in the existing double doors so I can keep the big doors closed and go in and out through a smaller door built into the bigger door! I have engineered a plan to make a suspended ceiling using 1x4s and the existing scrap insulation sheets from the old garage -- we'll see how that goes.
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GOOD MONDAY MORNIN' 5:36A 12/28/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Sunday was another blessed day as the CCP virus has had no adverse effect on the Holy Spirit and His moving among His people and the church that is faithful to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords. I personally feel like 2020 has been one of the best years for our family -- He has prepared a "table" for us in the presence of our enemies -- surely the "enemy" has never before been so "in your face" but GOD's arm has not been shortened at all and we have experienced His bountiful provisions even though there is a "spiritual famine" in America -- BUT GOD keeps reminding me "Be still and know that I am God" and in His Time and in His Way His Salvation will be seen by those that in spite of the darkness "Wait upon the LORD" -- God Bless America!
I feel like this hummingbird who showed up Sunday morning with so much snow on the ground and the feeder was frozen solid -- BUT GOD -- takes the feeder down and runs warm water over it until the ice melts and then GOD hangs it back out in 19 degree weather and the little hummingbird "DRINKS DEEP FROM THE GOODNESS OF GOD" - even if the world is freezing and covered with snow -- THE LORD PROVIDES AND WE CAN DRINK DEEP OF HIS MERCY AND GRACE!!!
See ya
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GOOD SUNDAY MORNIN' 5:09A 12/27/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Saturday was just as slow as Christmas Day -- I attached the headboard I made for Deb to the bed and secured everything to the wall so she can watch TV while I'm at Church in the evenings. Rob and Molly had a "drain" problem so the 12 degrees froze the "dip" in the drain line so the drain quit draining and the flusher flushed but guess where it drained!?!? Yep, you don't let sewage accumulate in low spot in areas exposed to freezing temps. Rob got some heat tape, wrapped the pipe after removing the dip and he is back in business.
The rest of the day we did nothing but stay warm ---
See ya
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GOOD SATURDAY MORNIN' 6:09A 12/26/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
We spent most of Christmas Day on the couch staying warm in front of the fireplace. Deb cooked a special Christmas Dinner and the ham she made was exceptional and we cut it big and thick and stuffed ourselves on Christmas ham that I have to declare as the BEST ham I ever ate. One Christmas many, many years ago, Deb's mom had made a Christmas ham in Alabama which was the best I had ever eaten and it had remained so until yesterday -- yes, it was that good but using my Son-In-Law's wisdom and discretion I did not mention it to my mother-in-law that her All-Time #1 Alabama ham had been upstaged by her daughter's 2020 Christmas ham (I shared it intimately with Deb and she appreciated my compliment and my discretion) -- we have not "exchanged gifts" for several years but our Christmas is about being together and even with Covid and a snowstorm preventing us from being together in person we were still a "Family United Together in SPIRIT" -- we did have a White Christmas as the Christmas Eve Snow was beautiful and it did snow a little on Christmas morning --
It is still very, very cold but it appears that all my insulation on the water lines and water heater are preventing the water from freezing but "out of an abundance of caution" I will add a little more, especially to the water source for Peg and Paul and Rob and Molly. Today will be a sit-in-front-of-the-fire day again as we saw 13 degrees when we got up and it says 16 degrees now so we'll keep the big room toasty again today. I'll only venture out after getting well bundled up.
See ya
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNIN' 5:12A 12/25/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
We look forward to our intimate worship service on Christmas Eve every year and Debbie always sings a special song and the church just worships quietly as Brother Steve shares the simple Christ Story which will never grow old for the believer. This year we got snowed in!!! We had to cancel at the last minute because in a matter of minutes the snow had accumulated quickly -- we had our coats on and were heading to the car when it started snowing so we went back into the house and made the call to Faye and Steve to tell them we were already snowed in and to arrange sound and singing substitutes --
It is a WHITE CHRISTMAS and it is snowing again -- as bad as 2020 has been, we have been blessed in so many ways that I must witness to the GOODNESS OF GOD!!! We moved up on Johnson Gap and we have been able to say that "OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER"!!! God has provided the family with food, shelter, warmth, and we are certainly BLESSED!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
See ya
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GOOD THURSDAY MORNIN' 6:13 12/24/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Wednesday was a good day outside, I decided to figure out how to get the riding lawnmower out to my practice green and that little task consisted of getting the mower started and running first. The battery had to be charged and I am having some issues with the starter but with a fully charged battery I can "Bump" the starter to a point that I can then get it started but I really need to replace the starter. The right front tire needs some more "stop leak" which I will pick up the next time I'm in town. I got the mower started and backed out so next was to get the mower trailer turned around and hooked up to the 4x4 Arctic Cat - done with no problems. The next issue came with getting the mower onto the tilt trailer which was quite easy once I figured out how to keep the brake applied while I got off the mower and moved my 200 lbs to the front so the trailer would tilt down level. I had figured this "trick" out in the spring and my "foot brake" was laying on the trailer but I had forgotten my "solution" and had thrown it off to the side, so I had to back the mower off the trailer and go get the "foot brake" and as soon as I got off the mower the engine died so it was another 30 minutes getting the mower started. The good news is that it was a beautiful day to be outside and I successfully got the mower on the trailer and was able to back the mower and trailer into the mower shed!!!
Next task was to clear a path wide enough for the CAT 4x4 to get down to the burn pit and below the two train rails left by the former owner. These are about 12 -14 feet long steel train rails and VERY heavy. My solution was to get the 4x4 below the rails and then to hook up the winch to the rail and drag it down the hill. I cleared a path, unhooked from the trailer/mower and positioned the 4x4 and winch below the rails and when I hooked up the winch it pulled each rail "DOWN" the hill as planned!!! YEAH!!! I then moved the big boards as well so my upper area is cleared and I can now move the old metal roof pieces down as well and clear up the upper part of the compound and make more yard and parking where the pieces are now being stored which is a real eyesore. TASK 2 DONE!!!
I received a call from B & R telling me they finally got stranded in the T100 and the problem can be fixed with a new fuel pump, filter, and fuel feed upgrade which will be $575 including taxes but I need a truck I can drive and it not strand me out on the road. I can't wait to be able to drive over the property again in my T100 and take Paul back out to the ponds. It is already part of the family and I look forward to having it back at Johnson Gap.
I also got my kerosene heater moved into my shop and working well. It kept me warm while I was building a big fire with scrap wood in my wood stove and before long I was up to 300+ at the wood burner and turned off the kerosene heater -- it was 27 outside but it was warm and toasty in my shop! I used a little kerosene and piece of scrap wood so keeping warm will not be an issue! TASK 3 DONE!!!
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GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNIN' 4:59 12/23/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Tuesday was another cancelled Family Night due to Covid -- However Deb cooked an excellent short rib dinner from the freezer full of fresh beef and it was another really good meal -- I requested stewed potatoes and chili beans and for me, it was delicious! Danny came out so we had Danny, Paula, Peggy, Paul, Debbie and myself and Deb made togo boxes for Rob and Molly who are under quarantine and Rob is recovering from a bad cold. I think the lockdowns are causing more illness than the Covid --
All I did yesterday was burn trash and go out on the 4x4 for a quick ride in the brilliant sunshine we had yesterday even though the temps are still pretty cold. I used to love to bundle up and work outside but now I'm getting old and just want to bundle up! Maybe I'm just lazy but I didn't do any "work" -- I will start on insulating my shop today and try to get me a warm space next to the fire.
See ya
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GOOD TUESDAY MORNIN' 4:50 12/22/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Monday was a slow day again, I did get out to burn a pile of Paula's cardboard she was going to haul to the dump -- Deb and I freshened the coop and the duck house with new bedding and the I took the 4x4 out for a tour of the property and found the ponds were back full again. I prefer the Mule to some parts but the 4x4 really scoots in other places -- scouted out some new trail possibilities -- I may try to start working on my "practice greens" and do some tree removal -- still have my shop to insulate and organize but my first love is OUTSIDE!!
The evening was nice and we went out after dark and could see Saturn and Jupiter in the "once in every 800 years Grand Conjunction" which was visible in the SW sky with the naked eye. I got a picture on my phone ---
See ya
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GOOD MONDAY MORNIN' 5:51A 12/21/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Sunday was a special treat because Deb and I were in charge of the combined Sunday School for the pre-K to 5th graders and we had a pretty good group. It's always a blessing to get to worship with the kids because the Spirit always moves in a special way, especially when you get the kids explaining things like "worship" and answering "Why was Jesus born?" I have learned more true spiritual knowledge by listening to the Holy Spirit talk through these young ones than one could ever imagine -- you should have seen the look on their faces when they understood when we talked about the fact that "Jesus was born to die" and they understood that Jesus started in a manger and died on a cross so that our sins could be forgiven and we ended up with CHRISTMAS and presents because of God's Gift of His Only Begotten Son -- CHRISTMAS IS THE GOSPEL !!!! -- anyway, we had a great class and then a great service in the main sanctuary --
Sunday is church, lunch, nap, church and then to bed -- Deb took these photos of my #1 Study Partner and our social director -- MAX THE CAT RULES!!!
Max is critiquing Deb's Sunday evening choice of special programming -- we are enjoying the fireplace: "Though the weather outside is frightful, the fire is so delightful..."
See ya
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GOOD SUNDAY MORNIN' 4:53A 12/20/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Yesterday I put 2nd and 3rd coats of paint on the bathroom vanity that was needing some TLC so I gave it a lot for three days which helped brighten the bathroom considerably - it will have to be replaced in the spring but we'll be able to get through the winter with it --
It has been cold and since the Mule and the truck are in the shop, I have stayed in the main house enjoying the fireplace. Peg had her 90th Birthday yesterday and we are blessed to still have Peg and Paul around to enjoy -- Not many people get to have both parents over 90 sit down to supper and laugh and talk about things but that is part of our blessings at Johnson Gap -- even with the CCP Virus attacking the world!
See ya
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GOOD SATURDAY MORNIN' 5:28A 12/19/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Yesterday I started working on the bathroom vanity which is in bad shape as it is a press board composite and has taken on some water besides some rough treatment from the previous "owners" because the edges are marred very badly -- my original intent was to give it a huge dose of TLC but some things cannot be "restored" and after spending the day putting on an oil based primer which is necessary to paint this "paper" product, I have decided to finish painting today and start shopping for a new vanity to be installed next spring. I have the bathroom clean and functional and the ugly parts of the abused vanity are corrected but fall short of my expectations so Deb will find the "perfect" vanity and I will put in all new fixtures and trim out the bathroom next spring. I am of the opinion that you must have a good bed, a good kitchen, and a good bathroom because those three areas are where we truly LIVE!
See ya
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNIN' 5:09A 12/18/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Thursday was a 2nd good "Honey Do" completion day for me -- I replaced the rusted door hinges on the bathroom, finished cleaning walls and the decorative baseboard in the bath and then cleaned the doors and trim, they are so clean that they may not need painting -- but I love fresh paint. I will start on the refresh of our old vanity today as I intend to set up a paint station in my shop and paint/sand the drawers and cabinet doors individually -- I will build a fire in my wood stove and can supplement that with my shop kerosene heater since I got 10 gallons yesterday.
Besides good progress on the bathroom, I put the dining room overhead lights on a dimmer, we got the fireplace serviced by a very nice and very professional "gas specialist" (thanks Mike) and the fireplace now produces a "roaring fire" -- I PUT UP A NEW CO2 DETECTOR AS WELL -- I also finished wiring and installing the new "dessert" light over our dessert and drink station that was a gift from Steve and Faye McDonald which will forever be a family heirloom and is an integral part of "FAMILY NIGHT"!
Today I will start on my shop and get some insulation on the doors so I can paint in there even though it is now 29 degrees out and I'll need to get the shop up to 55 in order to paint -- the high today is supposed to be 40 --- I'll put on my cold weather gear and "git-r-dun" ----
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GOOD THURSDAY MORNIN' 5:24A 12/17/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Wednesday was a good "Honey Do" day and I got my bathroom upgrade started. We just moved in and cleaned a little but now I am doing the drywall repair and addressing some "preference" issues on the bathroom in general -- I will do a complete repair and fresh paint everything in the bathroom but leave the replacement of the vanity and mirror until next year. I got the drywall patch on the walls yesterday and will do some sanding today as I also put up the trim I purchased yesterday. Got up Debbie's request for a "dessert table light like on Arrowwood" -- I'll put a "click thing" on it tomorrow ---
I made it to church around 5:00p yesterday and Jenice directed me on how to run the Children's Sunday School on 12/20/20 -- it is a great vote of confidence from Jenice to let me be the acting director when she is out --
Max is doing better and is almost back to the old Max, we sure do like out pets and when they hurt, we hurt --- Funny but I also miss my Mule and my T100 which are both waiting for repairs, 12/22 for the T100 but it will be the end of January before I get the Mule back, so I will move indoors and work on the bathroom and put up insulation in my shop until I can get back outside and work on the 64 acres -- there's always something -- had the idea of "horse and buggy" rides --- we'll let that one stew for awhile >>>
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GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNIN' 5:12A 12/16/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Tuesday was not a typical Tuesday, but what day is any more??? It turned out to be the perfect day and Danny and I spent the day running the road. My T100 has a unique problem that has eluded resolution because every time I take the truck to the shop, the problem goes away -- until yesterday when I drove the truck to the Oak Ridge dump and then drove it to the shop and turned it off in the parking lot of the shop in hopes it would not start like last week when I went to Home Depot and it wouldn't start after I loaded it with lumber. I tried to start the truck after arriving at the shop and it started right up. I called Danny and told him to come pick me up, thinking the wait time may have something to do with it and sure enough when he pulled into the lot I tried to start it and it wouldn't start so I went in and got the mechanic and he observed exactly what the issue was -- I left the truck there and told them that it would start in an hour and explained the freaky timing issue --- the T100 has 350,000 miles on it but when it runs it is a real "hoss" of a 4wd truck ---
Danny picked me up and we headed to Tractor Supply in Oak Ridge where Danny bought a new heavy duty trailer we could use to haul the Mule. The trailer had a broken tail light so they put a brand new set on for us, I bought a "spare" tire for his new trailer and we headed to Johnson Gap to load the Mule. When we got to Johnson Gap we quickly loaded the Mule and headed to Tommy's Motorsports.
It was supposed to be Peggy's birthday party which she was a little disappointed it got cancelled until next week so Danny and I surprised her with a special card and a warm throw for her room!
See ya
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GOOD TUESDAY MORNIN' 5:%3A 12/15/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Monday was not a typical Monday as Brother's Day has again been moved to another day in the week due to special circumstances -- weather and Covid continue to modify everyone's plans and then the unexpected thrown in on top of this already "big mess" really plays havoc with personal schedules and desires. Right now we are in the midst of a personal crisis with Max the Cat who is suffering with a Feline UTI that is causing bleeding and discomfort for him and we are having to monitor where Max is having "accidents" - Deb and I are reacting to the problem as best we can and so yesterday was spent at the vet with Max. He has been given some antibiotics but it is a 24/7 effort to keep him monitored and medicated and prevent "accidents" from ruining the house! Deb keeps an immaculate house and we try as best we can to assist her in maintaining our domicile in such excellent condition and Max and his UTI is "stressing" the environment to put it nicely. He is absolutely the best cat we have ever had and is worth the effort to get him well. We started giving Max his antibiotics yesterday and it will be several days before we will see progress ---
Today Danny and I will try to get the Mule to the repair shop to fix the 4WD drive noise we hear when we engage the 4WD. It is not supposed to get above 39 degrees today so I'll have to dress warm and Danny will have to keep the truck heater on while we get the trailer hooked up, the Mule loaded, and then trimmed to Tommy's.
We are modifying Family Night AGAIN -- Let everyone realize how WONDERFUL it will be to get back to the OLD NORMAL -- this "new normal" is terrible!
See ya
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GOOD MONDAY MORNIN' 5:03A 12/14/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Sunday was typical - left at 7:00a - morning service - home from 1:00p to 4:00P - back for evening service then home by 7:30p - 8:00P and Deb is always watching old Star Trek shows from her collection. Last night Calvary had an evening service combined with a business meeting and adoption of the 2021 budget and we LIVE STREAMED it all !!! That is why Calvary is such a special Spirit led Church --- Unity can only come from the Holy Spirit and Calvary is Spirit Led!!!! Nuff said...
It is raining hard right now and Max is having some issues so we will take him to the vet today -- Brother Day will be Tuesday this week as we will get the Mule to the "vet" also. Danny is still recovering from his back so things are moving slow right now ---
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GOOD SUNDAY MORNIN' 5:19A 12/13/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Saturday was breakfast at Hoskins Drug Store again, then into Kroger's Oak Ridge and back home where I loaded up for a wedding -- I had missed the rehearsal so there are a lot of things to get ready for the ceremony today -- long story short, everything turned out great -- God IS GOOD!!!
I was out from 9:30a to 4:00p but my missing Friday rehearsal was resolved -- I even had bad dreams Friday night -- it was worth spending all day to be part of such a special ceremony with a special couple starting an eternity together! Marriage is God's desire and it was accomplished yesterday. Congrats Tyler and Ashlyn!!!
See ya
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GOOD SATURDAY MORNIN' 4:54A 12/12/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Friday was another beautiful day so in the morning I worked on leaves in the back yard (which is the Front yard) and I got most of the leaves blown off the yard and up next to the picket fence and I'll clean that up today. The rest of the morning was spent cruising around looking for Dominic's keys lost Thursday when I took him out in the Mule ... no luck but it was a beautiful day to look --
After lunch I went outside and Danny was out on the 4x4 with JR and I set up a spot for us to work on the Mule. We were able to get all four wheels off the ground and then when we could see how the "differentials" for 2W and 4W worked we decided that "professionals" should best handle this with the proper equipment, know-how, and parts -- Danny said it would cost more to wait until it breaks than to fix it now so our plan is to get it to Tommy's Motorsports next Tuesday. We will have to borrow a big trailer to transport that heavy Mule so we'll get Danny's neighbor's big trailer we used to haul the Mule the first time. After Danny left Demand I took the dogs out for a walk and Max decided to tag along ...
We shut down early and Deb made pancakes and bacon for supper so after supper we watched the Grinch and when we were shutting down for the night Deb looked at her phone and there were messages for me from the church -- I had forgot I had a wedding rehearsal at church and I totally missed it -- made a few calls and I'll meet them early tomorrow and get the music for the ceremony set up -- I NEVER MISS a commitment and I really feel bad about this one -- can't cry over spilt milk -- I'll make my apologies today and do my best -- !?!?!?!?
See ya
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNIN' 5:58A 12/11/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Thursday was another beautiful day and I took the mower out and mowed until the mower ran out of gas -- it has a small two gallon tank which runs for about 1 1/4 hours and then I come back and refuel and clean debris off -- yesterday the timing was perfect foe leftover spaghetti and a nap before Dominic came over
We took on a tour of the compound and then we jumped in the mule and took a tour of the property -- when we got back we toured Paula's Little Paradise and when Dominic went to leave he could not find his keys -- I ran him home (just over the hill) to get his spare set of keys and we started a discussion of "building an ark" which Dominic was asking my "spiritual" advise on -- we'll see where this one leads us ...
Danny and I are going to work on the front wheel drive on the mule today and see if we can eliminate the noise we hear when the 4WD engages -- it works but it really makes a noise -- can't wait to see what we find, the journey is where the joy is -- I'll let you know tomorrow what we find
See ya
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GOOD THURSDAY MORNIN' 5:06A 12/10/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Wednesday was absolutely beautiful --- I took the mower and the Mule down the hill and mowed and mowed!! Then I came back up the hill and the Mule pulled the mower back up my new access road so I am really happy about that and the mowed area looks great! Who knew that you could have that much fun on a Mule mowing weeds!?!?!?
Took Sadie out and as soon as I got off the big hill she jumped in the driver's seat and the absolute joy of her laughing and giggling and running into mudholes is hard to get on tape but she had a great time and loves running down the trails -- she was able to take us everywhere except up the big hill to the back perimeter and the Big Pond but after she gets some more experience under her belt she will be able to go over the whole property. She's cautious enough to be "safe" but she also will push the "pedal to the metal" and enjoy the ride when she gets a "straightaway"!!!
I'll do maintenance, clean, and run back out again and mow several more hours today---- Friday Danny and I are going to look at the 4 wheel drive noise -- more FUN!!!!
See ya
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GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNIN' 5:05A 12/09/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Tuesday this week was Danny and my birthday celebration and we had "CONEYs" while the rest of the Family had Hot Dogs. Sure is tough getting old so Danny and I decided were getting better (Ha Ha). I cut a new trail today just below the corral and I found a path down the hill that I can get back up the hill in the Mule. The diesel in the Mule makes it very heavy and when it gets wet and I am trying to pull a load I have been having trouble getting back up the hill so I found a place yesterday where I can get back up, getting "down" is easy!!! Danny and I will work on the Mule Friday if it is as pretty as is predicted and I plan to get the "Made-In-America" mower down the hill and build a little shelter and will protect the engine from the elements but 95% of the mowing will be the back 60 acres that has about 10-12 acres cleared and needs to be mowed (rough cut) and then also the trails that connect the open areas and trails running along the perimeter ridges -- this is a very unusual layout but man is it pretty!
I will continue working some "honey-do" items early and then get back out on the trails this afternoon, hopefully with the mower and clean up the new trail down to the back part of the property.
Me and the weed eater attack a new trail ---
See ya
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GOOD TUESDAY MORNIN' 5:13A 12/08/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Monday was a slow day in the morning so Deb and I went down to pick up HOT DOGS for Family Night -- this week we will celebrate mine and Danny's birthday and next week Peggy's then the Christmas Carol/Party and that will close out 2020 for Family Nights.
I took the Mule out and start cutting a new trail just below the corral -- I am trying to find a new route off the hill that has less slope because the Mule is so heavy that if it is wet and the slope is too steep, the Mule will "drift", even in 4WD -- I think I have a good spot picked out -- I then went to the gravel pile and loaded several loads in my dump bed on the Mule and dumped and spread it on a wet spot where Deb parks her car -- the Mule is GREAT!!!
I will finish cleaning the back now that leaves are all off the trees now and get the back shut down for the winter -- Insulation is all in place in the common area and all water lines wrapped, I will take the left over insulation and start on my two big shop doors next.
See ya
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GOOD MONDAY MORNIN' 5:25A 12/07/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Sunday is always a "refreshing" day as I get to spend several hours completely immersed in the Word of God bathed by the Holy Spirit as it is overflowing at Calvary. Working the "sound" for Calvary is an active "mission call" for me and so the time I spend on the "mission field" helping share the Word is a time of worship for me and we receive so many blessings from worship that each Sunday I leave at 7:00a and usually return at 7:30P with lunch and a nap in between the morning and evening service but the day leaves me feeling "My cup runneth over" as the 23rd Psalm comes to life for me through worship -
Today is "Brother's Day" so I'll call and see how Danny is feeling and we'll decide from there...
See ya
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GOOD SUNDAY MORNIN' 5:15A 12/06/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Yesterday Deb and I went down the hill to Clinton and had breakfast at Hoskins Drug Store which is exactly like it was in 1940 -- we were sitting in a booth and there was a picture on the wall in the booth that showed the store layout in 1940 and it was the same booths and layouts as was in the photo and we could even identify the booth we were sitting in!!! It was old fashioned comfortable, we need more of that in our society. I really enjoyed breakfast and then spent the rest of the day putting up insulation on all the exposed pipes and drains that I had installed last spring. We are "well blanketed" now so all I can say is "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!"
Special treat for supper as Deb whipped up some "Open face roast beef sandwiches" with the 1/2 beef we bought (homemade bread, too) and the brown gravy was the jewel in her crown -- life's little pleasures are PRICELESS!!!
We ate in the booth in the middle where the lady with the purse is -- recognize anyone???
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GOOD SATURDAY MORNIN' 5:36A 12/05/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Yesterday Danny and I went into Oak Ridge and he bought me a Chili Cheese Coney with onions for my birthday lunch and then we went printer shopping. Staples's printers were of course geared towards "office" work (and office priced) so we ran over to Walmart and got a "personal" printer that was reasonably priced. We then drove to his house and opened the printer box and the instructions in the top of the box said a smart phone "app" was required to set up the printer!!!
Think about this simple little $80 dollar printer could only be set up with a "smart phone" and "wifi" -- ponder on what it takes to provide all the cell phone towers and satellites orbiting the earth and the number of employees and programmers required to be able to set up an $80 printer!!!!!! This is our world and we need to understand where our society is heading with our exponential advancements into technology -- an $80 dollar printer being set up with a $1000 smart phone and a multibillion $$$ satellite system requires some thought ... but who really cares about AI????
Thanks to all the birthday wishes I received --
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNIN' 5:29A 12/04/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Thursday was spent up in the flat roof attic putting insulation around all the pipes for the new plumbing I installed last April and did not winterize -- living in a barn requires some "re-programming" -- we have not had additional problems after I put blankets on the tankless hot water heater and today I will finish "blanketing" all exposed water and drain pipes I installed in the "attic" -- the outside water faucets are designed to "self drain" below the frost line so all we have to do is make sure the faucet is "off" so it will "self drain" -- this has been a great learning experience, NEVER A DULL MOMENT!!!
Today is my 74th birthday and Danny and I are going to go get a "hot dog with chili and onions" -- we don't have a "Coney Island" so we go to Sonic and get the "Chili Cheese Coney" and pretend we are on Cuyler Street in Pampa! We are going to pick up a printer for Danny and get him set up -- looks like we won't be fishing for a couple of weeks but there's always something to do --
Deb and Sadie took me to Olive Garden for Shrimp Scampi yesterday and it was DELICIOUS!!! Not getting to eat out has helped me lose weight, save money, and appreciate getting to go out when we can manage it -- caregiving has its severe limitations but it has many, many blessings and last night I enjoyed literally EVERY BITE of my SCAMPI!!!
See ya
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GOOD THURSDAY MORNIN' 5:21A 12/03/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
A very, very cold Tuesday night led to a Wednesday fraught with deicing frozen pipes and tankless water heaters, then a couple of trips to Home Depot for R19 insulation and a day of "up-the-ladder-down-the-ladder". The morning's first task was to determine that the tankless water heater that hangs on the wall in the Common Area (which is the "uninsulated" portion of the big barn and is essentially the same as the outside temperature) should have been put inside an "insulated" covering because the inside of the tankless is a series of copper pipes filled with water and it quickly froze in the freezing temps. I pulled out my heat gun and after unfreezing the "tankless" copper pipes (that did not burst) I immediately came down the ladder and headed to purchase insulation to cover the tankless water heater.
After I got the hot water running to Peg and Paul's house, Deb showed me the frozen outdoor water pipe that we had left "open" and the hose connected to the pipe and valve designed to be below the frost line had frozen solid because we had not shut it off so that it would drain as designed and so I took my heat gun to the outdoor faucet and repeated the exercise of "deicing" but now I am out in cold, cold -- burrrr -- and then as Deb was leaving to get Sadie she pointed out that Robbie's drain had come lose and was draining where it wasn't supposed to -- I was on my way out to Home Depot again and my way was blocked by a trailer full of split firewood that was stuck in the gravel part of the driveway because the guy was pulling the loaded trailer with a 4 cylinder Nissan -- I went and got my T100, put it in 4 wheel drive, and then I literally pushed the trailer and the Nissan up the hill into the compound!
At the end of the day Sean volunteered to work Wednesday night sound for me so I was able to finish my plumbing and completed putting a "blanket" on the tankless, got the outdoor faucet running then turned off properly so it wouldn't freeze again, Robbie's drain functioning as designed, insulation cut and ready to "blanket" the macerator drains as a "safety" (peace of mind) precautions. There was a big learning curve for this amateur plumber for all the work and new installation I did in 2020 in our move into the big barn at Johnson Gap but so far it is nothing short of a miracle that a 73 year old was able to do all that ladder and attic work and get all the electrical and plumbing done and mistakes corrected, there have been ceiling leaks and water puddles and unpleasant head banging experiences but we have three houses with lights and indoor plumbing and have paid ZERO $$$ for an plumber and electrician so forgive me while I declare God as the ultimate provider for giving me the strength and the knowledge to accomplish what has been accomplished at Johnson Gap by a 73 year old (tomorrow Dec 4 I will turn 74!) God is GOOD!!! (You have to declare it a success because the water is hot, the lights are on, and the toilets all flush and drain -- and to me that is PRICELESS!!!) Did I mention Deb got a new sink and faucet?
Thanks to my Brother who has been so generous and has equipped us with a Mule, and Arctic Cat, a Made-in-America-mower, a Riding Mower, and the know-how to keep it all running -- God knew I would need a Big Brother and God gave me the BEST BROTHER --- THANKS DANNY!!!
See ya
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GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNIN' 5:02A 12/01/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Tuesday Family Night was cancelled this week since we had a big Thanksgiving -- we decided for our "at risk people" to wait two weeks before gathering again. Sure was strange to miss a Tuesday Family Night because since 2005 we have missed less than a dozen total! Covid has really had an impact on "family" gatherings...
Yesterday was a strange day all around as it was spiritually "out of sync" and the evening ended with Max having an "episode" and we weren't sure what to do so we put him outside for the evening and Debbie had to do all the bed covers -- we had a strange evening and I slept in the big chair since it was my side of the bed that was affected -- Max came in when we let the dogs out at 4:00A this morning and he is acting fine now, he had me worried but he is purring now, he sure was sick yesterday. I did nothing Tuesday but budget and bills so I will post some archive pics
See ya
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GOOD TUESDAY MORNIN' 5:40A 12/01/2020 FROM JOHNSON GAP :)
Monday started with a Drs. appointment that got cancelled so I got nothing done waiting to go to the appointment then as I pulled into the parking lot Deb called and the appointment was "rescheduled" for January -- it was supposed to be a review of my test results so if I only have 6 weeks to live I'll at least get to have another birthday first -- I'm feeling great, I was feeling great when I had my wellness exam, I'm confident I will continue to feel great so I just saved myself another $40 copay! All is well.
When I got back I had some of Deb's delicious Chili-mac and then went out in the shop to cut up fire starter pieces from scrap wood and then started a fire -- I put an oven thermometer on the top of my stove and got it up to 175 with the small logs burning in the front half, the little fire warmed the shop really well but I will have to work on insulating my big double doors because there are big gaps that need to be "winterized" for sure. I also have an issue with the metal wall getting warm and I am considering going with a double wall feedthrough and some more stovepipe to take my outside pipe up a little more -- There is a slight "plastic" smell Robbie noticed and I may be burning paint off the wall, Rob asked if I was burning 2 liter bottles -- it was nothing but scrap wood from the mower crate, today I will burn deadfall wood only and we'll see if the smell is still there or not, if it is I will go to Tractor Supply and get double wall stovepipe and continue putting up fire board around all creosote timbers in proximity to my stove -- I'm sure I'm safe but I'll keep with it until it doesn't have any "plastic" smell -- I didn't notice it but Rob did.
We had our first snow but it didn't stick, I did get a good picture of a hummingbird and snowflakes -- the ducks love it! Looks like I'll have to work out some procedure on "water" for the ducks and keeping the water hose from "freezing" --
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