It is that time of year once again. Winter is coming in fast and it is time to make the yearly mad dash to get everything ready for the cold stuff. Time to walk around, make a list of what needs to be done and what materials would be needed . Caulking ? Checking out furnace/heaters ? Batteries in both the solar systems and cars/trucks ? Anti-freeze levels up in radiators and spare gallons on hand ? I just checked my freeze or ice melt, and need to add a bag or two myself. Long long handled mop to clean of the tv dish when it snows, Make sure ladders accessable to jump up on the solar building roof and clean off solar panels. Rat and mice traps under the house and in my shops. Snow shovel ready to go ? Hate that one myself. I still need to run new wiring into my solar room for each bank of solar panels. I am going to up them again, only this time to #6 ga wire. Run the new junction boxes and incoming conduit etc. and caulk the areas where it goes into the building. Also, time to get new spark plugs for all my gennies, a spare of the spare oil filter for my onan and start stocking up on extra gas and oil. Got one more propane tank to refill as it is getting low and it is the one I use to heat my shops with. 100# tank. I use the 20lbs tanks for spares for that. Twice now I had to use my spare tanks on the house as the snow was deep and the propane delivery trucks couldn't make it out on all of our 6 miles of unplowed dirt road. Don't get caught with your pants down. Winter is winter and I don't care what the locals say. They are about as accurate as the weatherman and we all know how that goes.
The list is started here, too. Need another gas can for the tractor mounted blower. Rent a splitter and get those cured 16" blocks split for the wood stove. (Restock the basement rick, too.) Stake the edges of the drive so I don't gouge the "grass" over winter. Wax the snow shovel (so I can shovel a path for the propane guy. Grrr.) Test fire the wood stove. Test fire the Hot Dawg in the basement shop, stuff some loose insulation in the exhaust pipe gap in the wall. Step up the 'stat on the water heater. Test fire the gas log in the living room. Check the window and door seals for damage. Check air pressure in all tires, pickup, tractor, gennie wagon and bike. Check the oil in all engines (check the change intervals, too, to make sure none are due.) Check the Bilco hatch for freedom of movement. Traps are ready, soon the little field bas##rds will be moving in where it's warm. (Got cheese and peanut butter at the ready.)
check to make sure the following thing's are done go across the road to make sure extra gas has layed in for the winter and pay my part of the gas bill extra oil for the honda generator unit in 1.qt sized bottle's a new smaller 1.gallon & 5.gallon sized gas can for use with the generator small hand held fuel transfer pump to move the gas from the bigger unit to the small can extra oil filter's for the genny extra air filter's stocked up for the protable stove 1pd propane cylinder i use to cook with .Wally world has them two for $5.98 here in the area where i'm at so i going to get about eight of them this weekend make sure the solar panel are in cleaned check the water level in the battery bank check all connection's of the wiring coming into and out of the bank unit's do a full system check of the unit to make sure everything is up and running right before getting caught in a storm up there layout the winter time clothing extras snow gator's for the boot's white logger boot's with 12.inch tall tops that are higher than normal for wear dureing the winter time rubber mulk boot's for wear as need around the place when it wet & muddy in the area seal skinz socks with silk sock liner's silk glove's liner's gloves sweatshirt jacket this items are placed by the front entance to use them as they are need the car was gone over all ready and it ready as i can make it for winter time
I'm still getting in the wood for this winter. Got three cords to go. I just got my Jeep back from the shop. I now have a brand new completely rebuilt engine. It was 304 now 30 over its a 310 v-8 . Edelbrock performer intake and carb with out the side headers and new exhaust. I also had some work done on the skid pan and cross member. Its a rock now and ready for cammo paint and some 33 inch BF Goodrich Mud terrain tires. When its done Ill post pics of it next to my wife's new Toyota. Beauty and the Beast. Hunting season is in full swing and Im close to putting some venison in the freezer with my new cross bow. The garden is canned and in the freezer. All I have left to do is get in the rest of the wood. Its going to be a great winter here. Im looking forward to ice fishing. Kingfish
One of the neighbors traded Momma, a cooler of Moose Steaks for some of her Sealer Bags that went to her Old Sealing Machine. We are now really set for winter, with 50, more, pounds of Moose Meat in the Freezer. ..... YMMV....
breaking ground for a new inground greenhouse im plannin on growin right thru winter see how it works
The biggest winter prep here is to insulate the well and make sure the light bulb which keeps it from freezing works.
found a hell of a deal today, going to check it out tomorrow 4 wheeler i can haul wood with, guys hurtin for $ and will let me have it for $600 ive known the guy for 40 years and if he says its works good i know its true, will be damned handy skiddin logs out of the woods lots faster than just me pullin them and im gettin some pretty sore knees i hate gettin old....lol i also am pretty sure i can hammer out some perfect fit farm equipment for it to pull be kinda fun
See BTPost's home built skidder for his 4wheeler. If I can find it again, I'll post a link. Found it, here: http://www.survivalmonkey.com/forum/off-grid-living/28993-my-logging-rhino.html
yeah ive seen it, its what around here is called a doodlebug but thats a lil bigger than what i need i dont wanna carry the logs, just pull them a short distance so i can use the crosscut on them easier
Best thing I ever dreamed up.... One Man Logging is a lot easier with that rig on the front. ...... YMMV....
Handy thing like that could be used very easily to pull moose , elk , deer , and a few small bears out of the woods also. Be sure the bears are kinda dead first though LOL
