Pellet heads!! What's up today?

I think I hear lobster being prepared.

 

Or just do this


FIRE IN THE HOLE !!!

 

Too noisy!

 

But way more fun

 

Luck with that. I've got a stump, probably a maple (but maybe not), that was there (and not fresh) when I bought this place 5 years ago. I dug out roots, and chainsawed roots, and dug out more. and there must be a big tap root under it because it ain't budging. And oh yeah, that hole under the stump is filled with water most the time since it is close to the swamp.

 

High today of 75*. Had some windows open and did some yard work. No mowing since the grass is still brown, and not much cleaning up since it rained all last night into late morning, but I did "stuff".

Cleaned out more of the garage and used power equipment to get a nasty, large wood box down to manageable size to get into the Explorer and reassign to the dump. Oh yeah, had to empty that wood box first since it had all kinds of left over planters, two grass bags (one for each mower), terra cotta pots, plant fertilizers, a 50 lb dog food bag full of brown paper (for weed block), actual fabric weed block, found a brand new hose (or it was when I moved here), and other odds and ends. Put the snow blower where that box had been and still had room to put other stuff in that spot (yeah, the box was huge).

Moved some rocks, raked some leaves out into the drier part of the yard so they can dry up and be mulched by the mower in the future. Repotted house plants, went out and read for a while in the back sitting area. Gave Rita a flea/tick treatment so I could let her out during nice weather. I'm sure I did other stuff too, just all of was prep for stuff that will be done in the future, so really isn't noticeable.

 

Stumps can be rough.

Years ago I was on a delivery up in Portland.
Had my Transfer outfit loaded up with 3/4-0 rock for the drive and garage back fill on a new home being built in an old neighborhood.

I roll up with the transfer and drop the trailer in the street.
Right across from the job there are a couple dudes trying to rip out a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE Laurel hedge with a Nissan 4x4 pickup truck and a cable.

Yanking the guts outta that WIDDLE TRUCK...

I watched with amusement for a few minutes and then felt sorry for the guys.

I got out of the rig and wandered over....
The young fella looked at me and shrugged.
I casually mentioned "I think I can fix your little problem"

I had him hook his choker onto the Pintle hook on my truck, motioned them to get clear..

Rolled up on the slack and turned the 500 HP Cat loose with the tranny in the deep low hole.

Truck weight at 56,500 #
Truck went OOOOOMPH...hedge went ooooomph....truck won.

The hedge came out...all of it...and the water line, and the gas line, and the dirt bank, and the retaining wall that the hedge had grown into...

GAWD...WHAT A MESS.

Moral of the story... be careful about roots and things.

 

Good reminder.

 

Happy Birthday PelletHound

 

X2!

 

Just when I thought we were firmly in the "Shoulder season" and would be finishing up using the little stove.... NOPE ..all day yesterday and all night we had the big Whit churning away... Granted the stove was on low during the day, then up on #2 setting from 6-11 pm and then on low overnight..

House was 67 F this morning at 5 am....

We had been trying to use the Small Whit, but the weather has just been too chilly to do that..(43 F yesterday mid day) The little stove can handle keeping the house comfy down to about 48-50 F and if there is some sun to help its a sure bet.

Below this temp we just have to fire up the big stove.

Looks like today is going to be a near rerun of yesterday.

I need to clean both stoves today... gonna get after the little one after things get going (Folks not sleeping)

Fire it off, then shut down the big guy and allow it to cool well...

Ahh well... stove season is alive and well.

 

Thankfully I know what’s around and under this tree stump, but I totally hear you on the mess possibility.

Aside from cutting the main roots off the sides I’ve been drilling bore holes and cutting with a sawzall off the stump itself. Definitely an involved process but I think it’s the only way.

With my drill i can at least tell when I hit soil so I know I’m making progress.

 

Soak the sucker with diesel fuel and then build a big fire in the hole.

The resulting left overs from the fire will help the soil...

 

X3

 

Don't forget some Stabil in the full gas tank and run for 15 minutes at idle before storing for the summer.

 

Hire a person with a stump grinding service. They will grind stumps down to order. For $100 you can rent a stump grinder from HD. Go to youtube and explore many options for grinding or other methods to removing stumps. Lots to learn there.

 

Who said it is stored for the season? Just getting it out of the way for when the bike comes home at the end of the week.

I actually try to run it dry, but if that isn't possible, then I add a bit more Seafoam (I add Seafoam to the gas can before filling it since I never know how long it will be sitting there). I'm HOPING that I won't need the snow blower again this season, but that certainly is not a given.

Always good to get a reminder though

 

Too close to my septic and my neighbors well is down grade from it. Living in the ‘burbs...

I also looked into the stump grinding, figured I’d give the digging and cutting a shot first. One side is rotted to mush. Will have a final answer on it today for next steps.

May very well go the stump grinder route.

 

Ahhhhh
Definitely not a good plan then.

Grinder...