beautiful here today. up in 60s next few days. prob piss-pour rain all weekend, but it's still legal to be an optimist...at the moment.
-
ICMag with help from Landrace Warden and The Vault is running a NEW contest in November! You can check it here. Prizes are seeds & forum premium access. Come join in!
-26F or -31C here tonight, how cold is it by you?
- Thread starter Stoner4Life
- Start date
-15 f. on the front porch this AM at about 7:30.
S'posed to warm up to about -3 to -7 f. in town today, though the airport (NOAA/NWS) was already close to that when we were -15 f.
Calling for +upper teens to +lower 20s tomorrow. That'll be when we might need to transfer about 270 US gallons of #1 heating oil from drums, into the 500 US gallon heating oil tank, which ought to be at around 230-250 US gallons currently, if my approximations are correct.
Then we can smell a bit like fuel oil for a day or so, or, at least my Carhart Extreme Weather black insulated coat I use for such tasks can. I'll park it on an outboard motor stand in the basement until its olfactory presence behaves itself.
Acquaintance's cabin's available in the Wrangell-St. Elias Nat'l Park and Preserve for end of March, early April, for the annual lake trout and burbot ice fishing trek, assuming I and the machines are ready and able. Older son thinks he's 85% sure he can go this year. I'm skeptical of his 'financial buffering' that would allow him to take about 8 days off, even though the trip itself is my treat, but we'll see.
At least the larger machine is ready to go, unlike last year when my younger boy screwed me out of that by not keeping his commitments, and the overflow conditions there took a toll on my fishing on the one lake with the smaller machine.
Both machines are running pretty darned good at the moment, but need a new drive belt on the older completely rebuilt smaller one I had to use last year; it wasn't pleased with hauling the load it had behind it, and burned up most of a $100 belt.. Shit happens. Then more shit happens. Some place in between are some rainbows and sunshine... and maybe some huge, or at least respectable, lake trout
S'posed to warm up to about -3 to -7 f. in town today, though the airport (NOAA/NWS) was already close to that when we were -15 f.
Calling for +upper teens to +lower 20s tomorrow. That'll be when we might need to transfer about 270 US gallons of #1 heating oil from drums, into the 500 US gallon heating oil tank, which ought to be at around 230-250 US gallons currently, if my approximations are correct.
Then we can smell a bit like fuel oil for a day or so, or, at least my Carhart Extreme Weather black insulated coat I use for such tasks can. I'll park it on an outboard motor stand in the basement until its olfactory presence behaves itself.
Acquaintance's cabin's available in the Wrangell-St. Elias Nat'l Park and Preserve for end of March, early April, for the annual lake trout and burbot ice fishing trek, assuming I and the machines are ready and able. Older son thinks he's 85% sure he can go this year. I'm skeptical of his 'financial buffering' that would allow him to take about 8 days off, even though the trip itself is my treat, but we'll see.
At least the larger machine is ready to go, unlike last year when my younger boy screwed me out of that by not keeping his commitments, and the overflow conditions there took a toll on my fishing on the one lake with the smaller machine.
Both machines are running pretty darned good at the moment, but need a new drive belt on the older completely rebuilt smaller one I had to use last year; it wasn't pleased with hauling the load it had behind it, and burned up most of a $100 belt.. Shit happens. Then more shit happens. Some place in between are some rainbows and sunshine... and maybe some huge, or at least respectable, lake trout
Last edited:
Sounds like some good living right there! Sounds like an awesome experience out in the wilderness!
I just got a new carhart, its just a level 3 insulation though!
We are at 45F right now and in a couple days forecast high is 64F. Anything goes. Supposed to be above average temperatures through the end of the month of Janurary according to NOAA Climate prediction Center.
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
I just got a new carhart, its just a level 3 insulation though!
We are at 45F right now and in a couple days forecast high is 64F. Anything goes. Supposed to be above average temperatures through the end of the month of Janurary according to NOAA Climate prediction Center.
Climate Prediction Center
Three Berries
Active member
Looks like a good rain coming up Mon night Tue and then lower 60fs for Wed. Colder after that though. Still good for Illinois winter. Need to capture some rain water and fill the jugs.
+17 f. when we just transferred all of the heating oil from drums that we could safely put into the main tank, without leaving a partial 60-gallon drum. So there's still one 60-US-gallon drum out there waiting for the next go-round.
Supposed to be mid-to upper teens above 0 f. tomrrow, too; time to replace the headlight on my wife's vehicle. We've been waiting for warm enough weather to not crack the wiring harness on that vehicle. Honda tends to be overly proud of their gear. No sense in acquiring bills that aren't necessary. So tomorrow looks like the day. "Let there be (head)light."
Supposed to be mid-to upper teens above 0 f. tomrrow, too; time to replace the headlight on my wife's vehicle. We've been waiting for warm enough weather to not crack the wiring harness on that vehicle. Honda tends to be overly proud of their gear. No sense in acquiring bills that aren't necessary. So tomorrow looks like the day. "Let there be (head)light."
Last edited:
Does fuel oil gel up at colder temperatures? Glad yu were able to get things ready for the next round. Winter has just begun!
Kind of disappointed, watching the long range forecasts. Seems to trend above average through Jan. Will keep an eye on things.
49F and Fog at 7:00 Am.
High today 58F! Anything goes, everyone is happy when the weather swings so much!
We are getting less rain than forecast, but we just got an inch, so its alright. Need as much as possible to get us out of this drought. Its forecast to have removal of drought conditions by the end of January.
Getting us thinking about spring. You can smell the moisture. Getting more herb seed in this week! Going to have to wait until April 1 to germinate though.
Had an early freeze in early Oct. in 2022, wonder how late the frosts will hit this spring. Don't need to worry too much though, herb does well with cool weather in the spring. Just have to baby them through the initial growth phase until they are a little bigger.
Kind of disappointed, watching the long range forecasts. Seems to trend above average through Jan. Will keep an eye on things.
49F and Fog at 7:00 Am.
High today 58F! Anything goes, everyone is happy when the weather swings so much!
We are getting less rain than forecast, but we just got an inch, so its alright. Need as much as possible to get us out of this drought. Its forecast to have removal of drought conditions by the end of January.
Getting us thinking about spring. You can smell the moisture. Getting more herb seed in this week! Going to have to wait until April 1 to germinate though.
Had an early freeze in early Oct. in 2022, wonder how late the frosts will hit this spring. Don't need to worry too much though, herb does well with cool weather in the spring. Just have to baby them through the initial growth phase until they are a little bigger.
Three Berries
Active member
I use to use fuel oil for heat, back when it was cheap. Around me they use diesel fuel. If you didn't ask for it they 'gave' you #1 diesel which is higher priced and will not jell. But I always got #2 and add anti jell. After many years they quit selling the #1 and went with the #2 with additives as they do everywhere now.
Foggy today but up to the 60Fs tomorrow before the rain and cooler temps. This year's plans are to continue with my rip rap on the pond bank. Got abut 300 ft to go. Need to clear it off for access first.
Foggy today but up to the 60Fs tomorrow before the rain and cooler temps. This year's plans are to continue with my rip rap on the pond bank. Got abut 300 ft to go. Need to clear it off for access first.
Rip rap is a good workout! Still on my winter break after being on landscape duty all season. We'll see what the weather does. Last year it froze up pretty good all winter. Its usually somewhat mild and you can get stuff done at one point or another during the winter months. Above average temps looks like the story for a while. I'm cool with that!
Three Berries
Active member
It's a lot of weight but it's all downhill! I went through an estimated 30-40 tons last year all handled by hand with a mower, lawn cart and hand cart. There are a few big chunks I use an engine hoist to lift on to the hand cart. I need to move it about 500 foot from where it gets dumped. Went through two sets of tires and bearings on the lawn cart. Mind over matter and take breaks.
Three Berries
Active member
My son works for a concrete construction company and they literally have tons of waste, most wire free. It's great stuff as long as they break it up enough. But a good mix from dry concrete powder and gravel to 300# chunks. They usually give it to a concrete 'rock' maker who grinds it all up to make landscape rocks.
They just got a three year contract building some huge grain silos about 20 miles away so there's plenty to come. Hard to estimate the weight but one 3.5 ton dump, a load of slabs we used a fork skidster on and 8 dual axel dump trailer loads.
They just got a three year contract building some huge grain silos about 20 miles away so there's plenty to come. Hard to estimate the weight but one 3.5 ton dump, a load of slabs we used a fork skidster on and 8 dual axel dump trailer loads.
Thats quite a bit! Usually we do rip rap in the warm season so you an detail a little better. I guess if its just shoreline and nothing around docks it wouldnt matter when. I have some rip rap to do to, very steep out at the lake house, and it needs rip rap where eroding in the cove. I have a few miscelaneous material from landscape projects. Will have to talk to dad, maybe we can get free material from someone like you did! We need a lot.
Dense fog again today and warm. You have to know a rain is on the way!
Dense fog again today and warm. You have to know a rain is on the way!
Three Berries
Active member
It's a steep collapsing bank with both wave erosion and flash flood erosion. Get hit from two directions. It's been getting worse and worse and the farmers up stream have done something in the last 5 years to really increase flash flooding flow. The wave erosion is from the pond level being too high artificially. Basically has undercut the bank all around by 3 cubic ft. Out of my control.
Once they are down at the bank it's not bad as gravity is your friend. With the drought the level was quite low. There is about a 1-2 foot vertical face underwater that needs covered and then more on the bank above it,. When the pond froze the level came up about a foot as the water was still coming in.
Once they are down at the bank it's not bad as gravity is your friend. With the drought the level was quite low. There is about a 1-2 foot vertical face underwater that needs covered and then more on the bank above it,. When the pond froze the level came up about a foot as the water was still coming in.
With an in-ground tank, even in arctic climates, the ground typically retains sufficient 'heat' to not gel #2 htg. oil.
With an above-ground tank or drums, or, if using certain boilers or heat-source types that specify #1 htg. oil, #1 heating oil is required in certain temps or situations.
Our above-ground tank and drums, as well as our higher tech boiler, both mandate #1 htg. oil, and no, it doesn't gel like #2 does/can.
I still add a small bottle of a product called 'Hot-4-in-1' to about every 175 gallons. Swear by the stuff. If you look it up, you'll see the 4 functions it provides.
Lunchmoney
Active member
Calling for record high temps in Michigan tomorrow upper 50’s. It’s close to 50 today. I can smell rain in the air
50s right now, 60s tomorrow, then back to reality by this weekend. 
forecast calling for "torrential downpours, possible tornadoes for the South...
forecast calling for "torrential downpours, possible tornadoes for the South...
+13 f. on the front porch mercury and glass thermometer this AM at about 7:30 AM.
Apt to be the warmest day for the rest of the week, so the headlight project is today, as well as a town trip.
We're out of a number of luxury items, and a few necessities, as well.
Apt to be the warmest day for the rest of the week, so the headlight project is today, as well as a town trip.
We're out of a number of luxury items, and a few necessities, as well.
