January 31-February 1, 2014

With the weather looking iffy, we might not have come out except for having a second showing scheduled for a couple from Missouri. It was in the low 40s Friday, 50 Saturday morning, but then cooled into the 30s with on and off light rain through out the day. We needed the rain, though I am not sure it amounted to much. I forgot to take any pictures this weekend.

Chicken Coop

I decided to clean out the chicken coop Friday afternoon. The main issue was all the leaves, bark, cedar cuttings, etc. that the pack rats had stuffed into the coops. I used a stick to rake it into a bucket, and then my gloved hands to scoop out everything I could. Some I put in the humanure compost bin and the rest I dumped over the bluff on to the far walnut tree. I then moved some items into the closed portion of the garage, including a metal shelf which Sally insisted had to go. I still have three bags of bentonite clay (brand Pond Seal), which I moved out by the front of the garage with plans to spread it into the spring tank (which only holds a few inches of water except during very wet periods). I did not get that done this trip, and really need my wheel barrow to help with the task.

Heater Pilots

We were in the living room Friday evening when I felt cool, and so went over to turn up the heater. The pilot was out, and I could not get it to re-light. I then went to check the other heater and the pilot was out on it as well. I was dumb founded since I thought I had finally figured these things out – keep them clean. For the past several years a good cleaning at the beginning of the season was all that was needed. But what now? With no wind, was there an actual low oxygen situation in the house? (They are ODS pilots, oxygen depletion sensors.) With this cold winter were they just being used more and got dirty? I first tried canned air to blow them off, it didn't help either one. I then cleaned the one in the kitchen with WD40 and then a tiny bit of carburetor cleaner (Sally hates the smell and violently objects to my use of it, but it is the best solvent.) I finally got it to light, but could tell that it was not burning correctly because the flame was off the pilot and it was making a blowing sound. I knew it would soon go out if I turned the heater up, so I just left it and we went to bed. During the night I checked it and could tell it was better, so went ahead and turned the heat up a bit. In the morning it was still burning and the pilot looked good. Whatever contaminant was on it must have burned off, or was it an actual low oxygen condition?

I then used a toothpick wrapped with a little cloth soaked in alcohol to clean the other one. It lite, was burning right, and continued to work fine throughout the day. I am going to bring out some pipe cleaners to use in the future, which should make the job easier.

Second Showing

The Missouri couple arrived around 10:30, and when I opened the door to greet them I was surprised at how much cooler it had gotten. Plus we were already experiencing light rain and drizzle. He brought his mother since she may live there with them, and his cousin to get his impressions and opinions on home remodeling ideas (like adding a second bathroom). We visited with his mother and cousin's wife in the living room while they explored the house and discussed ideas.

I then took the couple and cousin to the barn, over to the spring, up above the spring and beyond the swing, around the top of the bluff out back, up one of the shoots to the top of that bluff line, on up to the top of the hill to the upper pasture, along the pasture back toward the road, and back down the trail through the woods to the house. We got pretty wet and were all cold. They declined any hot tea or the opportunity to warm up in the house, and were off. We'll just have to wait to see if they are still interested.

Steve

Mid afternoon we heard someone drive up. It was a barn builder from Farmington that was sent out by a lady in Ohio that raises goats and has decided to move to Eureka. I have been talking to her for several weeks. Her plan is to have people come out to purchase her goat milk, and I expressed the opinion that the road was the biggest issue – the steepness and the potential of meeting someone and having to back down. She had called Steve to check out the road and to offer an opinion about building a stand to sell the milk from at the top of the hill. He was actually the second person she had sent out to check out the road. They have both said it was good and solid and would be fine. The first said definitely do not pave it (something I was surprised to hear). Steve and I had different understandings regarding exactly what she may want him to build for her, so I tried to call but missed her. I showed Steve the barn, it started raining again, and he was on his way.