So Many Tulips

Thanks to Mary Reeder, I enjoy tulips in my backyard each spring.

Some of the images have textures added just for my own practice.

Preparations and Reparations

This post brought to you by Boyd.  

Note from Becca:  Spring season seems to be the time for preparing, repairing and a little bit of swearing.  Oh my!

While operating the tractor, there began to be a small tick which turned out to be an expensive nightmare ordeal.

Thinking that the tick might have been a loose lifter, the valves were adjusted.  While not visible in this picture...  (Sorry, I didn't keep up and he wouldn't repeat.)

Valve train DT 466

Turbo Charger with plastic bags to prevent water infiltration.

Muffler, rotted out.  Cost $570

Air filter housing with broken mounting pad. Replacement cost $350.

Fixed for a few $$$, but a few hours of time to get it right.  The new bracket.

Hose - needed three inches.  Had to buy a foot for $23.

Air filter reinstalled.

Valve cover that would not fit.  Replacement price $850.  Finally got it to fit after much swearing and losing of faith.

After having finished one tractor, another tractor needed some front end work.

It needed the ball joints replaced.

The best way I could figure to take it out was to cut the ball joint in half with a hack saw.

I welded the nut to the end of the shaft so I could put an impact wrench on it and get it off.  The welder was hauled out of the basement in the backhoe so I could weld the nut on the steering cylinder.

Necessary items for weak husband who could not loosen the nuts without great leverage.

Welding the nut on.

Nut welded on the joint.

Wishing like hell my father had been an accountant instead of a farmer.

Success!  The joint had been removed.

Note:  I apparently didn't take any photos of the new intake manifold and all the bolts he had to take out and all the gaskets.  :)  I need to work on my photojournalism skills.    I am sure Boyd will have plenty more repairs I can document.  Oh yea!

Spring Turkeys

I spotted these guys wandering through the dog park one morning.  It never ceases to amaze me how FAST they can move.

Between the Storms

 We have had a few good moments between the storms. 

 I sure am learning to appreciate a clear, calm day.

 They have been few and far between lately.

 Just glad for the chance to enjoy them while they last.

Sage AKA Poindexter

 Oh Sage, he looks so innocent here doing his job of eating the weeds.

 He is so spoiled.  I brought home the tops of some strawberries from our work luncheon. 

 He devoured them.  He loves vegetables and fruit.

 He also feels so dejected if you leave him behind on a walk to the corner. He will bellow like you can't believe until he catches up to the group.

 And, he makes himself at home wherever he pleases.  This makes my husband crazy, but we are the only family he has now.  His caprine friends are all gone, so he has to resort to canines and humans for company.

 He just makes me smile!

Spring Break 2016

My spring break this year was March 29 and 30th.  I decided to take advantage of the fact that the students had the whole week off and add a few vacation days to my two days off since I wouldn't be correcting work and fielding phone calls.  It was a great idea in theory, the only problem was the rain. 
It kind of made me feel like Belle here.  I just wanted to huddle up in a nice warm corner and not move.

And, I often walked around the house with this look on my face.  Angry that it was raining and my list of things to do involved being outside!

And, being outside involved mud puddles of ginormous size.

We still ventured to the river and Boyd even joined us on his bike ONE time.

We also got to tend Maggy for six days.  She is just a huge bundle of energy when she is at our place.  She runs and runs and runs and runs.  She also gets into trouble because she doesn't know the rules.  She chased the cats, got in to the cat side of the old house and ate ALL the food in their dishes, and got herself cornered in the goat pen.  She is just always investigating everything.  She followed me in the goat pen, into the goat shelter and then the goat came in behind us.  I stepped out the opening past the goat, but Maggy is afraid of getting head-butted.  The look on her face was priceless when she realized she was trapped.  She even started digging at the straw in the other corner hoping to tunnel her way out.  Finally, after I laughed at her predicament long enough, I got the goat out of the way and she was free.
Buddy goes insane when Maggy retrieves in the water.  It doesn't help that the opposite bank creates quite the echo of his bark.