Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Tuesday pictures

A new feature on BlakesBlog; "What is it?".
I post a picture of some strange tool or whatever, you tell me what it is.
There are a lot of items here that I have no idea what they are.

Our "W" brand. My Grandpa used the branding iron to mark his blacksmith forge (Wayne Watson).


I was going to explore this building and contents, but changed my mind when I opened the door.

Try this in California. Smells like freedom! Well, actually, it smelled like burning leaves and wood. But it was pleasant either way.

I cheated to get a jump start.

Regarding the flamethrower: Cristina was telling Ben about me using the flamethrower for the floor tile removal. His comment was, "Oh no, what else will he try to use it for?". Funny because I have been looking at many things around the place and considering the possible benefits of high heat application.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Big catch up

Lots of little things to tell you about. I should have done this in several smaller posts, but felt too busy.

Things I don't have pictures of:
A fat copperhead. I was using a borrowed push weedeater (badass, I want one), and I was down at the little house next to the lake. I pushed up against a brush pile and a copperhead slid out. I went South and he went North; no time for pictures.

Yesterday I was working on stuff at the big house. Went out on the porch to get a tool, and I guess a red wasp dropped on my head. I was wearing my beanie and didn't feel it. By the time I got to the kitchen he had crawled down to the back of my neck. Then he stung the crap out of me at the base. Wow. I didn't like it. A few minutes later I had a bad headache and my arms were aching. Then a few minutes later I was ok, except a little nauseated. But I'd skipped breakfast and had 2 pots of coffee, so maybe that was it.

Last night Cristina made spaghetti and used ground venison in the sauce. She also made a nice green salad with chopped toasted pecans from our trees.

Not everything is fun and games. I've taken my Dad to 5 (I think) Dr. visits: Broken Bow, Idabel, and Paris, TX(x2). We have an EKG in the afternoon today.

Saturday we finally made to Costco in Dallas (Plano, TX). We also stopped at Cabelas and bought Nick a little "Leatherman" style multi-tool.

Lots of work to do at the little house to get it ready for the old folks to move in. Water damage, dry rot, termites, rat infestation, poison ivy over-run.

Deer season has moved on to muzzle-loader. Sunday we "helped" clean 3 deer. While we were there Nick was helping remove the membrane from the meat and using his new multi-tool. He asked me to sharpen the blade, so I did. A few minutes later he sliced his finger open. Monday at breakfast he said, "Dad, how do you dull a knife blade?".

Now the pictures:


The easy way to remove a deer hide.



Bedroom. Trying to scrape up tiles.

Water damage/mold.

Tile scrape attempt

water/mold



I found a new use for my flamethrower.


Now the tiles just peel up.

Bedroom done in just a few minutes.


I started the wall demo also. Why? Isn't the floor project enough of a project? Can't I do the walls later? Yes, except, I kept catching the walls on fire. Mostly small fires, but a couple were bigger and scary. So, I knocked out the bottoms of the walls so I could get to the smoldering stuff.

"Boards" so far gone you can use a broom to sweep the 2x4 apart.



I like this tool.






poison ivy

I found where we keep the old steel drums

This trailer has been here a while

I found fencing! Now I need to find posts

A few minutes of gathering pecans in the yard.








Wednesday, October 23, 2013

More wild animal pictures

Find the deer

Count the deer

Young buck

"Big mama"

"Kielbasa", "Bratwurst", "Andouille", and "Pepperoni"


Considered taking a picture of one of the skunks that has been hanging out in the "dog barn", but changed my mind. You know what a skunk looks like anyway.


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

more pictures

Venison x2

Yes, I know.

The lake

Artificial reef.

I should probably fix this...

Panoramic shot of lake.

Fiber attached to house.

Now the waiting begins. 18-24 months until switched on.

I made bread again today (and yesterday). I can't seem to get a picture before the loaf gets sliced.

Muscadine jam. DAMN it is good!