60+ year old thread.

@95SLE , so sorry to hear that Tom. All our best to you and your family.

 

What year/model of Subaru does she have? Interesting as most of the newer ones have a traction setting known as "X-Mode" . You do not use the brake or the accelerator pedal. It will literally walk you up or down a incline as long as you are going no more than 15mph (I think that is the speed) We have it on our 15 Outback, and if you have never experienced this -you would be amazed. I think it is similar to Toyota's crawl control, but being as I do not have that on my Tacoma I am not sure of this. It will control each wheel's braking and acceleration individually

 

Well, helllllllllllllllllllooo Porch People! Sorry, we've been kind of under the gun here in Central Texas, and you get to laugh at a part of the country that has NO FREAKING IDEA of what a winter storm can be and can do. It's not that we're totally unprepared, more so woefully underequipped. Just don't prepare for something that never happens - unlike hurricanes (we just pretend we got those under control after "that last one". Coldest days ever - check. Lowest high ever - check. First time ever for wind chill warnings - check. First time ever that EVERY county in the state went under a winter storm warning - check. Rolling blackouts, iced down power line - got all that. Oh, record snow, ice, and prolonged time below freezing - yup. So, I've been putzing real hard lately to put my Michigan training back into use - with what's available.

So, let's see. All the spigots got set to drip, then to stream on the second day, and covered up with the little covers, then I stuck bags of mulch in front of that. Oh, it took the heat gun and three buckets of hot water to get the one that had frozen up cleared today - but it's running now! This one had to get a little custom...



The rain barrels I just put out (did I even put that here?), they filled and froze solid during the Thursday ice storm! No real pic except for this Ice Prison today. They are being torture tested.



The ice and sleet on Thursday showed me that with no sunshine, 1000 Watts of space heater in the greenhouse was going to be no match for what was to come. I found my "Plankets" and all the bungies and tie downs I could in the garage, and got after the greenhouse on Friday. Got it from 40* to 50* inside (no sunshine) during the day. The poor space heater comes on at 50*F.




Alas, it could still not keep up with last nights overnight of 8*, and went freezing and below for several hours. I'm not going to look! I knocked the snow off, and that green "planket" got it warmed up to 50* in todays sun. So, maybe with a running start.....



In the flat of the front yard, 5.5" thereabouts. Drifts to about a foot, and the sun never did melt the cover over the solar. Wish I could reach...




And the poor dog Rex did NOT really care for going out to romp, much less his business. Remember I said we don't own a snow shovel? Well, yeah. Wifey did the walk for the dog, and I did in front of the garage so I could work on the spigot.




The little pond and it's heater kept the water flowing, and keeping the pool pump running did the same. Wife wanted low, I opted for medium flow! I put the pond heater on a timer like the heater for the garaged plants - alternating hours to help shed some load overnight.



I'm not complaining or anything, but we are simply barely equipped to do more than minimal around here. Power companies aren't faring any better. So, we got power - heat - food, and aren't foolish enough to travel.

Ain't retirement grand? You get to live something new every year! Oh, new record low of 4*? tonight! You all stay safe and warm, and enjoy the laugh at our expense.

 

When I left Germany, I left my cross country skies behind. Little did I think I'd have use for them in Central Texas!

Power was out for eight hours. The pool froze hard. Killed the breakers, no sense in burning up a 3-month-old pump. Well Pump water stopped. The pumphouse is warm (insulated with a 75W bulb in there). Just seems the pump didn't like the power surges last night. Simple troubleshooting didn't see anything, but no pressure. Franklin Sub150 with a green light (everything good) I suspect a bad pressure switch. Getting too cold, so tomorrow. We use 5-gallon bottles of water for drinking and cooking, well water has too much salt (dogs get bottled water, easier on their kidneys).

On the bright side pulled out the Truck and had a little fun. Still need to dig out my recovery gear (FJ40 days) as I have a decent strap someplace.

Just lost power again (rolling blackouts). Good thing I have the Coleman camping stove ready. You all have a good one.

 

Welcome aboard the porch! Let me be first to mention filling the cooler! Just because it's SO appropriate now!
I actually turned off the little beer fridge in the garage, because it was plenty cold. Darn thing started defrosting, and I had to turn it back on!

 

I cut my own hair.... saved me a few $$ over the years and no waiting

So sorry Tom. Condolences to the family.

All you guys with the white stuff around, stay safe and warm.

 

No, I brush my hair when I get up in the morning

 

Tom, Our prayers are with you and for you and your family.Russ

 

I feel for our friends in the south with the storm which is hitting hard. Be safe and don't travel if you don't need to. Us up here in the north are much more prepared for that but we still get hit with power outages once in a while. Russ

 

I am so sorry for your loss, Tom.

 

It's a 19 Outback. I think she had geared it down but gravity took over when she hit the corner on our sloping driveway.

 

Good morning everyone!!

It's 34 and raining now - some light icing on the colder parts of the driveway where it doesn't get warmed by the sun - otherwise it seems like anything that was frozen is turning to slush. Based on the radar the rain should be gone by 6:30 and the temps remain above freezing.

On to the next snowstorm on Wednesday/Thursday!!

Be safe and stay warm.

 

Good Morning folks. There is rain forcasted for today so it looks like a stay in and read day. We were scheduled to go for an air boat ride through the swamp to see some wild life but that will be put on hold for now. Have a safe day and be careful.

 

Since the Covid mess, I've been going to my wife's hair salon with her. Small shop, close to home, I get a decent haircut, good price, and the scenery is better than a bunch of old guys complaining about whatever.

 

Morning Kurt. It's 2 degrees right now North of Leander. Sucks being stuck in the house since last Friday. Add to that early Saturday morning our water pressure went to NOTHING. I spent much of Saturday and Sunday trying to find the problem at the well, storage tank, and booster pump area -- no joy. Booster pump works, so must be some frozen pipe somewhere at the wellhead, even though all pipes had been insulated (year round). Had to borrow some water from a neighbor to assist in flushing toilets. Add to that the random rolling blackouts and I'm ready to move back to the Australian Outback!!

Tex

 

Morning all:
Someone had to mention TAXES !

Looking pretty good so far this morning, looks like we missed the heavy icing they were predicting. That could be a whole different story just North of us at higher elevation, seen that more than once.

 

Good morning all you northeasterns have a storm coming your way. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news. Sorry. 7" dumped in Western Michigan last night. Hunker down and be safe.

 

42°F and lotsa rain here in SE Connecticut this AM.

Should knock down the snow piles a bit.

 

Good morning all,

We are in for a few days of snow, not lots just enough to be a pain-in-the-backside. Still cold temps but at least last night was above 0, 2 to be exact. Going to call the Spring traffic court this morning to see about getting the points removed.

Damn turkey's are everywhere - counted 60 yesterday in one of the groups of females. Elk herd is causing traffic issues on the county road that goes through the Fossil Bed National Monument, that heard is around 200 cows and they own the road when they want to. Why can't they be that bold when I am hunting them. Somehow they know they are on national protected lands - kind of the finger up to all of us....

Off to do nothing - LOL got a few things to do after 0900 then maybe get caught up on some reading..

Have a great and safe day everyone