Forty Acres and a What?!

No. I did not get a mule with my forty acres. Not even an old gray mare. But this past weekend, I did pick up an old gray market tractor. That is what they call an import that was not officially sanctioned. In other words, my Kubota L1500 was never officially allowed to be imported into the country because it did not meet government safety standards. But somehow, it got in and now it is mine.

It was purchased from an individual down below Birmingham and hauled up here on a borrowed equipment trailer with my Trailblazer. Thank you, Randy, for your trust and your generosity.

Getting the tractor and implements on the trailer was pretty easy. Getting them off proved to be sort of exciting. Sorry I do not even have a still of this event much less some video. Then again, it might be best unremembered.




Although it rained almost continuously on Sunday, I did take a few minutes to Bush Hog an access road up to where the water tank is.

Tanks A Lot!

Today I picked up a water storage tank. It holds 1600 gallons - more water than we use in a year of weekend camping.





I have chosen a site about 300 feet from the cabin at an elevation of about 40 feet above the level of the cabin floor.



Next steps are to level a pad on which to place the tank, dig a trench, and run the water line.

All's Well that Ends Well

Workshop siding is finished

Roger and crew have finished putting the siding on my workshop. They have done a very nice job. Now it is my turn to finish drying it in by installing windows and doors. Still a lot of work to do before that can happen. I have to fill the window spring grooves in each of the 40+ window sashes that I plan to use. Also, I have to build doors for the 8'x10' main opening.

It's a gusher!

This is the first time the new well pump has been run since the drilling team finished with the well. It looks like Tim has done everything very nicely. The water ran clear almost immediately (most of the dirt probably came from the garden hose). Next steps are to install a 1600 gallon water storage tank and run about 400 feet of 1" PVC.

OK. So 2014 is going to be a busy year. Have I mentioned the solar electric project?