tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21371330900530915612024-03-13T12:20:13.114-04:00Chendrashaker's WorldIn this blog most of what I share reflect my efforts to think globally and act locally.Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-25299724028754419642012-07-14T18:52:00.000-04:002012-07-14T18:52:01.890-04:00On may 10th 2012, Gerry was killed in an accident while doing maintenance on a section of the Finger Lakes Trail in the Catskills. Following his wishes, his kidney and liver were successfully transplanted to two recipients in need. He will be greatly missed.Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-37547745433804210902012-05-05T06:52:00.000-04:002012-05-05T06:52:51.301-04:00Locating the Wicked LeakEarly last winter I began to notice that the water pump was turning on about every 30 minutes so added it's repair to my "to do" list, but have procrastinated to do any thing about it. In January, with the help of my brother we pulled the well pump and replaced a defective checkvalve. <br />
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Ahh! ...problem solved or was it? </div>
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Since I am a light sleeper after 2 am and the "clicking" on/off water pump switch is in the basement below our bed room I could now hear the pump clicking on every 20 minutes. We pulled the pump again to check for leaks and even pressurized the line from the well head to the check valve and the pressure held! The <u>in</u> well line was not the source of the leak. <br />
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At the ground surface there were no wet areas that would indicate a leak. I started isolating various lines within the house - the pressure holds. Isolated the pressure tank - the pressure holds. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">So where is this 'wikileak'???</span> </strong></div>
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After a few more months and recovery from my burned foot (<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">See blog entry for April 1st "Amputation"</span></em> ), I decided to become a <em><u>mole</u></em>, <em><u>grave digger</u></em>, or just a <em><u>crazy man with a round pointed shovel</u></em> and find this "wicked leak". Our water line from the well has two branch lines to a hydrant near the garden and another at the barn/pond. I've never been very confident in my plumbing of the pond side hydrant, so I dug holes there first. No leak here that I could see. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuHYyy31hwI/T6Twrdv-OtI/AAAAAAAABUE/GU8l2h19TZE/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuHYyy31hwI/T6Twrdv-OtI/AAAAAAAABUE/GU8l2h19TZE/s200/012.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two 4.5 ft holes at the pond hydrants. <br />
The water table is only 4 ft down here. <br />
<em>...remind you of WWI?</em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next I thought about the hydrant into the log barn and dug it out. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XLjcbrJHvcg/T6TxEenvq5I/AAAAAAAABUU/T_MztHnj4TQ/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XLjcbrJHvcg/T6TxEenvq5I/AAAAAAAABUU/T_MztHnj4TQ/s200/013.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hole to log barn hydrant ...still no leak?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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"All right!" I said to my self. I am going to cut the water line to the barn and pond hydrants. So I dug a 4th hole to find the juction of the main water line and branch to the barn/pond hydrants. I cut the line and "walah!" ... the pump was still clicking on every 20 minutes. <strong>What!!#@*!!!</strong><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdbXsI4ynBo/T6Tw7bx_4YI/AAAAAAAABUM/8IUXgZejQaU/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdbXsI4ynBo/T6Tw7bx_4YI/AAAAAAAABUM/8IUXgZejQaU/s200/014.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 4th hole at the junction of<br />
the main line an line to the barn/pond hydrant. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Okay</span> ... so now what?</div>
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Is the "pitless" at the well head leaking? </div>
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Is the most recent hydrant set by the garden leaking? </div>
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I dig out the well head and expose the branch line to the garden hydrant. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nOCFaSmK3dU/T6TxO3RMxlI/AAAAAAAABUc/8F7D-vuiMw8/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nOCFaSmK3dU/T6TxO3RMxlI/AAAAAAAABUc/8F7D-vuiMw8/s200/016.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main water line and branch<br />
to garden hydrant. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OKhr1XCwAY/T6TwjgacjJI/AAAAAAAABT8/smqNMzH2aPQ/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OKhr1XCwAY/T6TwjgacjJI/AAAAAAAABT8/smqNMzH2aPQ/s200/015.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well head. Hole #5. <br />
(It only took me 1.5 hours to dig this 2.5x6x5 ft hole <br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>...need a grave anybody? -or- maybe my own!)</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The "wikileak" is in this line. It's repair will involve digging up the hydrant and starting there to seal the leak. <br />
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Since I cut each branch line from the main water line I decided to install a shut off valve that I can open/close using a long handled extension to isolate, locate and repair future leaks should they occur.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDZ8qT7DQRI/T6Tx8RmZNxI/AAAAAAAABUk/eaI1Gkb40bA/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDZ8qT7DQRI/T6Tx8RmZNxI/AAAAAAAABUk/eaI1Gkb40bA/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brass shut off valve cased in using cinder blocks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8Fv_j_9tgo/T6TyhbTOjyI/AAAAAAAABU0/nEh-u38OUyA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8Fv_j_9tgo/T6TyhbTOjyI/AAAAAAAABU0/nEh-u38OUyA/s200/003.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PCV pipe will allow a 5' handle to<br />
open/close the shut off valve to branch lines. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0e-Wce9ELBw/T6TyEQq4EvI/AAAAAAAABUs/DRDXx4ESXPo/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0e-Wce9ELBw/T6TyEQq4EvI/AAAAAAAABUs/DRDXx4ESXPo/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well head and shut off pipe. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<em><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">...so what if I had installed shut valves on each branch line during the original construction?</span></em></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-39620173901106697102012-04-17T07:04:00.002-04:002012-05-03T06:41:56.735-04:00Peas On Earth, With Good Compost to Amend!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A several days ago, I turned over garden soil by hand and planted peas. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTjfAdpcTRc/T4LFHzjOAbI/AAAAAAAABSc/BjV4AE71UdY/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTjfAdpcTRc/T4LFHzjOAbI/AAAAAAAABSc/BjV4AE71UdY/s320/015.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PEAS ON EARTH!<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">("Early Frosty" pea variety)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5HmJQ3SM9lw/T4LE-eELuCI/AAAAAAAABSU/_sdg9766pSA/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5HmJQ3SM9lw/T4LE-eELuCI/AAAAAAAABSU/_sdg9766pSA/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WITH GOOD COMPOST TO AMEND!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: black;"><em>Happy 2012 Gardening All!</em></span></strong></span></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-39570078625372328712012-04-01T11:37:00.008-04:002012-04-10T07:51:07.929-04:00Amputation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">My last post was titled "Accidents" <span style="font-size: small;">(...see 3/12/12),</span> where I described the burning of my left foot while making a cup of soup on a Finger Lakes Trail backpack. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;">elow are several pictures of the burned foot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are not pleasant to look at, <span style="color: red;">so <u>viewer</u> <u>beware</u></span>. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O68b_vSS-ow/T3DbFyLASNI/AAAAAAAABP8/aexMBPP3E4w/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O68b_vSS-ow/T3DbFyLASNI/AAAAAAAABP8/aexMBPP3E4w/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">4 hours after the hot water burn</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kTzZJPG5AQ/T3Dbrr8fpyI/AAAAAAAABQM/4Ll_dLvoST0/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kTzZJPG5AQ/T3Dbrr8fpyI/AAAAAAAABQM/4Ll_dLvoST0/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">24 hours </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yz99s9YoRnk/T3DbQ96oqQI/AAAAAAAABQE/AyFDp99AbEc/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yz99s9YoRnk/T3DbQ96oqQI/AAAAAAAABQE/AyFDp99AbEc/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">36 hours</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strong>Now</strong></u> two weeks later I would like to give blog followers an update. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After five days of self treating I went to the emergency room at our local hospital. The ER physician treated the wound and insisted that I contact the burn unit at the University of Rochester's Strong Hospital. </span><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see the burn was a very serious burn and because I had waited over a week to seek medical help the foot was <u>amputated</u> just above the ankle...Yes, AMPUTATED!</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">...read on!</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: lime;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;">April Fool's</span></em></strong>!</span></span></u></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">OKAY ... so what really happened?</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did seek medical help from the Krasser Burn Unit at Strong Hospital in Rochester, where Dr. Bell and his staff using general anesthesesia:</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. debrided the granular tissue forming in the central 3rd degree burn area of the foot. </span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. took a partial skin graft (<em><span style="font-size: small;">a 2x4 sized segment</span></em>) from my upper thigh and attached it to the 3rd degree burn area of the foot. A very high tech vacuum pump drained any liquids from the wound as well as providing <u>negative pressure</u> to secure the graft to the sub-dermis, insuring a good generative dermis to dermis contact for optimal growth.</span> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MhpjzeMw18/T3Dj0zTBquI/AAAAAAAABQU/OWKzJMNs9sg/s1600/burns+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MhpjzeMw18/T3Dj0zTBquI/AAAAAAAABQU/OWKzJMNs9sg/s320/burns+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">7 days post burn/<strong>pre</strong>-skin graft. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">You can see the 3rd degree burn (whitish tissue) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">in the central area.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4T4R6DR_V4I/T3SOEbeccNI/AAAAAAAABRM/uxuIaxVIy94/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4T4R6DR_V4I/T3SOEbeccNI/AAAAAAAABRM/uxuIaxVIy94/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the skin graft with the partial vacuum tube in place.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I changed the wound dressing each day. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see the healing progress in the next few photos. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InsXNajf9Jw/T3SLvWd78uI/AAAAAAAABQ8/rvUghvv8-ZE/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InsXNajf9Jw/T3SLvWd78uI/AAAAAAAABQ8/rvUghvv8-ZE/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">11 days after the burn / 6 days after the skin graft. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The 2nd degree burn (outside) are recovering and the skin graft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> (interior with staples) is "beautiful" according the the doctor at Strong Hospital. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(<em>I also have to say that these are my very first body piercings</em>.)</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm00s74Eh94/T3SNFMIMzTI/AAAAAAAABRE/-YT4H_u7wRk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm00s74Eh94/T3SNFMIMzTI/AAAAAAAABRE/-YT4H_u7wRk/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The skin graft site on my upper thigh. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Doctors wanted the graft covered and open to the air so that </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">a dry scab would</span><span style="font-size: small;"> form where it will crumble off with time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liAfu9IHFaQ/T3h7934sn5I/AAAAAAAABRw/PnwDyyTwSY0/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liAfu9IHFaQ/T3h7934sn5I/AAAAAAAABRw/PnwDyyTwSY0/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">3 weeks post burn/ 10 days post skin graft. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It is looking better. </span><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: small;">So tomorrow it is back to the burn unit at Strong Hospital for staple removal and hopefully a release to begin a resumption of activity ...<strong>with moderation</strong>. Spring is here and there is much to do ...mabe even another backpack. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">The END!</span></span><br />
<div align="left"><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><strong>Here are two updated photos</strong></span></em></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7Zo-DtPnDM/T4QcGilD4lI/AAAAAAAABSs/dqPk0ufrXhQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7Zo-DtPnDM/T4QcGilD4lI/AAAAAAAABSs/dqPk0ufrXhQ/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 days post injury/27days post skin graft. The peeling skin is <br />
normal. There is no discomfort and I have resumed full activity,<br />
including daily walks. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpHdyuIt4gM/T4QdmD8xJDI/AAAAAAAABS0/VA7IKYN0N4M/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpHdyuIt4gM/T4QdmD8xJDI/AAAAAAAABS0/VA7IKYN0N4M/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The skin graft site 27 days after surgery. <br />
No pain, but it can be a little itchy. <br />
Skin lotion on both sites helps. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-44708299364039334222012-03-12T06:50:00.000-04:002012-03-12T06:50:33.941-04:00AccidentsLast Friday my wife dropped me off south of Hammondsport, NY to backpack along the Finger Lakes trail to Ithaca, NY, 85 miles east by the Finger Lakes Trail. I was making good progress each day, braving snow squalls and some cold night in shelters along the trail. With three days of trekking and 60 plus miles under my belt I was feeling confident about finishing the remaining 22 miles on the last planned hiking day. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Below are a couple of short video clips that give you a brief appreciation of trail hiking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Turn up your sound.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friday - 3/9 on the trail above Hammondsport.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmvvJZlX2E97i0vBnRfwHtjuGI5y6R9fALPULhZI0CopuwzGxfm5PkWeWTi4nCFr7KPt9pJGvm25x1Dtxr6g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's Spring!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwtRyooDxcjEz7yJ804FoY347OIa5REWPGFlGKj9IjGCZlE_50A3rnZKyII0-lyDYd7jYQNZVbHZwsI6MAoWw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steep trail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7HHXsRRQci1FnFcIHTquVtJy-RapvW2KE9LcmhQIQrvodDq0UqBLHe7uazDut8B8fAE45YXIVPNrHeep1rg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saturday evening at the Roger's Hill Lean-To, after 27 miles of backpacking for the day; I was fixing myself a cup of hot soup, very pleased with my progress and only one more day before reaching my goal "pull out" point of Ithaca, NY. As I was pouring the boiling water into a my cup the pot jiggled loose from the handle spilling boiling water onto my sock covered foot. I immediately pulled the sock off and poured cold water on the injury. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Too late the damage was done and the hike was over. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fortunatly with the warm evening a local ATV rider was able to help transport me to a rendezvous spot where my wife could pick me up.)</span></em> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...so here I sit dispite all the rational thoughts; trying to sort this out in my mind to bring some closure to this issue. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Why !!?</span></strong> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><u>Accident</u> - Any unpleasant or unfortunate occurence involving injury, loss, suffering, or death; a casualty; mishap</em></strong>. - as defined by my old Funk & Wagnalls dictionary.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Caution!</span></strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">... viewer discretion advised.</span></strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYwGxH6X-YI/T13QPEDrTbI/AAAAAAAABPU/k82ks0brSNo/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYwGxH6X-YI/T13QPEDrTbI/AAAAAAAABPU/k82ks0brSNo/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-45152795567961752432012-03-09T08:06:00.000-05:002012-03-08T08:22:30.880-05:00Top Loading/Bottom Unloading Vermicompost BinI have been vermicomposting our kitchen waste for over two years. Originally I converted an old guinea pig box into a worm bin. This worked until I tried removing the finished vermicompost, involving the <u>separation</u> of decomposing layers of kitchen waste in order to get at the finished vermicompost. Red worms also had to be removed by hand and returned to the bin in order to access the finished vermicompost. An entirely <u><strong>too messy</strong> process</u> to be taking place in my basement. So this is a rather long post sharing my home made, self designed vermicoposting bin.<br />
<br />
If you are still interested, read on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VwNRSrlH4HE/T1iZcQhh5CI/AAAAAAAABO4/P3OWerVG0NU/s1600/Scan10002.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VwNRSrlH4HE/T1iZcQhh5CI/AAAAAAAABO4/P3OWerVG0NU/s320/Scan10002.BMP" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An informal drawing of the homemade, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">top loading/bottom unloading vermicompost bin on wheels.</span><br />
(<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">click on the diagram to see a larger picture of the drawing</span></em>) </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46NyWDIsqiU/T1YFtyij0ZI/AAAAAAAABOw/eyCpXD7qGUc/s1600/Honey+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46NyWDIsqiU/T1YFtyij0ZI/AAAAAAAABOw/eyCpXD7qGUc/s320/Honey+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The homemade, portable top loading/bottom unloading vermicompost bin.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63HDkFCRHpU/T1YEfAQUUoI/AAAAAAAABOo/JyWfnF75EWE/s1600/Honey+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63HDkFCRHpU/T1YEfAQUUoI/AAAAAAAABOo/JyWfnF75EWE/s320/Honey+021.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The plastic lined bin has a turnable "tickler" rod at the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">bottom of the bin, enabling finished vermicompost</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">to be unloaded from the bottom of the bin.</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHWPRIE54TE/T1YAuiWgeYI/AAAAAAAABOY/rZJWL0xI6_s/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHWPRIE54TE/T1YAuiWgeYI/AAAAAAAABOY/rZJWL0xI6_s/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The vermicompost bin contents are covered with newspaper.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiWvHW_uqN4/T1YBvwPvB9I/AAAAAAAABOg/MjZUcnSEVuM/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiWvHW_uqN4/T1YBvwPvB9I/AAAAAAAABOg/MjZUcnSEVuM/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shredded kitchen waste added to the bin several days ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(The kitchen waste is ontop of a 0.5cm layer of finished compost </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">that I periodically add to keep odor down, plus enhance</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the bin's biotia.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOtg6QKWWchlqPtYDkWg_pDVzevMx2nvGcPfkepnMEEhHa1ijYXZ_BVs3q_ZLiy62L21px-B1Aye_gWE0zlg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Here you can see red worm activity below decomposing kitchen wastes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>(Double clip on the video picture to see a full screen view.)</em></span><br />
<div align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuOUO_ejcehZgRJp875eYL44-uFAiSFT3z5W7gEhDxkz4Ka4Vwlao2yJJbKIi6lUicDgbxHgrmtacbDdjjlw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"> <span style="font-size: small;">Kitchen waste is shredded using a food processor purchased at</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a local thrift store. I feel that shredding kitchen waste speeds up </span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">decomposition process.</span> </div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Double clip on the video picture to see a full screen view.)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxyVTTuoUu_oXEVs9xcbwMTKR22SPGLn7gykLFkYtutDNC8-h3h64AI_Nb4CIeUFeFtyWhM2wcRIV6KEoGYkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shredded kitchen waste is spread in the bin. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(...sorry about conservative talk show host, Laura Ingram on the radio in the background. Unfortunately NPR radio wave don't enter the basement.)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwLmG3whOjW5yccpMxjNo-RfbU4Y0TfIcXLOE-Kqaz3SN65khTDkO01Uc4dreYdM7eCkY2cu8nplSA-NYs-gA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finished vermicompost is "tickled offed" the bottom of the bin by turning the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">1m long bar forward and backwards 15cm. A screw drive mechanism from a </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">basement jackpost was removed and welded onto one end of the winged "tickler bar".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The finished vermicompost falls into a trommel, screening drum made from hardware cloth.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Double clip on the video picture to see a full screen view.)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylQf46uKfq8w-BNCXkLseep9RPOU0Rr_71tGtlaEpz5DS1cDJ-OJ7jUlXHd0IVuA6DGjZ3_YGUPutelh_j8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The trommel screening drum is rotated forward and backwards with the screened vermicompost falling into the sloped collecting tray underneath. Since the vermicompost tickled off the bottom of the bin is quite damp, screening is repeated over several days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Double clip on the video picture to see a full screen view.)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxv5Of_U0ygvdazfH8oBvKqtjZf0iB66SHp70Bd-kJplGzVrnml1iZkEI8yITtwuJVUwuvC2mkdqVENUIVj' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cover the bin with newsprint that allows me to keep the bin open, yet dark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for worm activity. The bin is then covered with a meshed garden cloth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Double clip on the video picture to see a full screen view.)</span></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I monitor the bin for odors everytime I walk through the basement. Like any active composting process, success often depends on the WONC ratios (<strong><u>w</u></strong>ater/<u><strong>o</strong></u>xygen - 1 <strong><u>n</u></strong>itorgen/ 3 <u><strong>c</strong></u>arbon ratios) by adding more shredded newspring (adding carbon and/or absorbing water) and stirring to move the contents to a more aerobic (with oxygen) vs anaerobic (with out oxygen = unacceptable odor) condition. </div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-40543509100831902232012-03-04T17:24:00.000-05:002012-03-04T17:24:05.359-05:00Gone To Pick Up the Sunday Paper.<div style="text-align: center;"> I have always liked physical exercise. Back in the 70's and very early 80's I ran competive road races including the Boston Marathon multiple times with fair amount of success. By 2009 - age, time and expense (<span style="font-size: xx-small;">clothing, shoes, race fees, travel, etc</span>) make walking on local roads the ideal aerobic exercise for me. Sundays are my usual "big" walking days in order to make my weekly goal of 30 miles. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today's walk shown below is a typical loop, requiring about 4 hours to complete. </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJRcfdHX9dY/T1PmbOkyYtI/AAAAAAAABNw/0LLwLd3kZrg/s1600/Sunday+Walk+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJRcfdHX9dY/T1PmbOkyYtI/AAAAAAAABNw/0LLwLd3kZrg/s320/Sunday+Walk+map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The google map marks today's 15.42 mile walking loop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-61633376063068223122012-02-25T09:02:00.001-05:002012-02-25T09:04:29.025-05:00Relief ='s two new totems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On March 27, 2010 I wrote about carving animal totems where several log butts protruded from an interior wall in our log house. At that time I completed <u>three</u> of the five log ends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Click on the link below to see that particular blog entry</em></span>]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">( <a href="http://chendrashakersworld.blogspot.com/2010/03/creativity-better-late-than-never.html"><em>http://chendrashakersworld.blogspot.com/2010/03/creativity-better-late-than-never.html</em></a> )</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTv5iX7nnkg/T0jgslVOljI/AAAAAAAABNE/HeHZ3dEWAW8/s1600/Totems+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTv5iX7nnkg/T0jgslVOljI/AAAAAAAABNE/HeHZ3dEWAW8/s320/Totems+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two unfinished log butts are above <br />
the beaver, bear, and turtle heads</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the past few days I have intermittently been working to finish the project started in 2010 with a sharp pruning saw, hand chisels, a rasp, sand paper and my imagination.The original intent (1983) was to create a totem pole affect using NY state animals to entertain our kids as they went up and down the stairs while growing up. Unforturnately for the creative side of life, this <u>relief</u> intent was shelved due to the demands of the work world. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hurray for the "<u>tiring</u>" work of re<u>tire</u>ment!</span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVG7JwX4yFw/T0ja2T8EpaI/AAAAAAAABM0/zZ1UGd5qVnc/s1600/Totems+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVG7JwX4yFw/T0ja2T8EpaI/AAAAAAAABM0/zZ1UGd5qVnc/s320/Totems+014.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frog and a canadian goose <br />
were released from top two log ends. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I asked my visiting grandson <span style="font-size: large;">"What he saw?"</span> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he guessed the frog correctly, </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...but when asked about the top figure he said; </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"A penquin?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: right;">You know - he might be <strong>right</strong>! </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: right;">It does look like a flying "penquin".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">'Chendrashaker'</div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-34421672142940224182012-02-23T08:12:00.002-05:002012-02-23T08:28:41.037-05:002010 Leaf Compost Analysis Results are in.<span style="font-size: large;">The information below is a fellow up those interested in my January 27, 2012 blog post. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WQzISzuoAOU/T0Y-1o0R6iI/AAAAAAAABMM/G0UGfTas2W4/s1600/Scan10004.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WQzISzuoAOU/T0Y-1o0R6iI/AAAAAAAABMM/G0UGfTas2W4/s640/Scan10004.BMP" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hf36vfxFt14/T0Y58Wza76I/AAAAAAAABME/tSL3e6HcrwI/s1600/Scan10003.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hf36vfxFt14/T0Y58Wza76I/AAAAAAAABME/tSL3e6HcrwI/s640/Scan10003.BMP" width="494" /></a></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-15510629597144499512012-02-13T17:40:00.001-05:002012-02-13T17:47:34.766-05:00...in Hot WaterIn October we had HALCO (<a href="http://www.halcoheating.com/">http://www.halcoheating.com/</a>) install a direct solar hot water system on our new roof. The goal is to reduce our annual propane use by 50%.<br />
<u>How it works</u>:<br />
An antifreeze solution is pumped through two solar collector panels on the roof. This fluid is then pumped through a coil inside of a large water storage tank located next to our existing propane hot water tank. If the solar panel temperature is 10 degrees higher than the storage tank bottom's water temperature, a circulating pump turns on. Heat from the solar heated solution is then transferred by conduction and convection within the storage tank. When we turn a hot water faucet on for showers, dish washing or laundry; preheated water from the top of the storage tank enters our existing hot water tank, reducing the amount of propane needed to raise well water to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqjfRBeDt0s/Tzlh1LQRmZI/AAAAAAAABLE/hQGSP-ic1ls/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqjfRBeDt0s/Tzlh1LQRmZI/AAAAAAAABLE/hQGSP-ic1ls/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two solar hot water panels.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BS4iOziIqjU/TzliEhesOzI/AAAAAAAABLM/FNW19xv2hqs/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BS4iOziIqjU/TzliEhesOzI/AAAAAAAABLM/FNW19xv2hqs/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air temperature - 38 Faherenheit in the shade.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLGRPIbWTeM/TzlmZrvUixI/AAAAAAAABLg/TfvmnO1M9CA/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLGRPIbWTeM/TzlmZrvUixI/AAAAAAAABLg/TfvmnO1M9CA/s320/010.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inhouse temperature probe (left) and various <br />
pressure gages for easy system monitoring. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxa6X72jLOSXpRH8dmNybVjfilD7XS0-JtzmBvBJV5aNhl-NLzxUNioHkq5E0iz1upw2wGIIwMGiYbmwluDSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The above video clip was taken at 2:30 PM local time.</span> </div><ol><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 1st number is the temperature of the antifreeze solution in the panels on the roof. (121 F)</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 2nd number is the temperature at the bottom of the water storage tank. (102 F)</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 3rd number is the water temperature at the top of the water storage tank, which feeds our existing gas heated hot water tank. ( 89 F)</div></li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see the water entering our hot water tank is preheated by the sun. Before the solar water heating system was installed, 56 - 57 degree Fahrenheit <u>well</u> water would enter our hot water tank and then have to be heated with propane to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxMPJkpo0rkoLkTc7HNFBIvO983Y3OlV_liNRgoKvuKHC_xCZ402tNCikZIvMJXVWdAOVcq4ZNO0lqpJzLkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>The following video clip was taken later (5:35 PM) as the sun is now lower in the western sky. As you can see, the solar panel temperature is down (47 F), but the temperature at the top of the storage tank is 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Water entering the hot water tank will only have to be heated 23 degrees vs 57 degree water coming directly from the well under the old system.<br />
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We will be watching our propane bills, so check back in a few months.Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-28033769166784706582012-01-27T08:51:00.000-05:002012-01-27T08:51:56.392-05:00Screening 2010 Leaf Compost<div style="text-align: center;">Yard leaves are a terrific source of soil amending compost. Each fall I rake and collect yard leaves into a large pack pile. In our yard the leaves consist of black walnut, white ash, a variety of maples, red oak, and shrub leaves. Below are several photos and video clips of the finishing process for the 2010 leaves into a fine compost that will be added to this springs (2012) vegetable garden. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMEZDaFM6vA/TyKaf6zpuEI/AAAAAAAABJM/9qVyXyXIymc/s1600/jan+compost+12+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMEZDaFM6vA/TyKaf6zpuEI/AAAAAAAABJM/9qVyXyXIymc/s400/jan+compost+12+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Unscreened 2010 Leaf Compost</span><br />
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<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwku-ABMJXaftJRfNnH_e94HPitLUsN860jQeYxLdIZojN1XQz0wwIeN_LiXSxImg2KA1bzDATlI60YH-W-Rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Screening 2010 leaf compost removes sticks, nut hulls, stones...etc.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LrkKhmrXB0A/TyKaRchvpYI/AAAAAAAABJE/P_PlXV2zYyM/s1600/jan+compost+12+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LrkKhmrXB0A/TyKaRchvpYI/AAAAAAAABJE/P_PlXV2zYyM/s320/jan+compost+12+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Screened, finished leaf compost</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzriFdIuXCHN7TJR9rnnPjxPF8HiM2T89SAelb0a8zx6wyBgnP2-exSZEiHu6pYkZXHdU4ze7XoxnMNd45Cfg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Removing materials that did not pass through the screen for further screening and/or recomposting.</span></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSJY-VHYbzQl8fXxF9RHNWpjr6IHvilEC7BU4OV-kUg1gjADEXxZCOeUee4jL8uUxkqeJichCTOpoqdNQFQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here I shovel the screened, finish compost into holding bin made of lined wood pallets.</span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Fzy79AvCkM/TyKfqCRmSKI/AAAAAAAABJU/sPWBia7G3vo/s1600/jan+compost+12+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Fzy79AvCkM/TyKfqCRmSKI/AAAAAAAABJU/sPWBia7G3vo/s320/jan+compost+12+010.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The bin of finished 2010 leaf compost </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">...I would estimate the volume to be 2.5 - 3 cubic yards.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXXtKqIxm6Y/TyKg2TgWO4I/AAAAAAAABJc/OWiUAHNMcz8/s1600/jan+compost+12+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dXXtKqIxm6Y/TyKg2TgWO4I/AAAAAAAABJc/OWiUAHNMcz8/s320/jan+compost+12+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The finished compost pile (L) is covered, protecting it from leaching</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and the screened out (R) will be rescreened and/or worked into future </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--p8j8QPOqTQ/TyKhuq0oEFI/AAAAAAAABJk/uTtRa_0-mtA/s1600/jan+compost+12+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> compost piles for further decomposition.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--p8j8QPOqTQ/TyKhuq0oEFI/AAAAAAAABJk/uTtRa_0-mtA/s1600/jan+compost+12+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--p8j8QPOqTQ/TyKhuq0oEFI/AAAAAAAABJk/uTtRa_0-mtA/s320/jan+compost+12+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Above is the 2011 leaf pack pile. (<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note the interior temperature in the photo below</span>) Over the next year, I will turn </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">this pile several times to insure it forms a finished compost by December 2012. </span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaDBHBM-YIE/TyKjX5aiQsI/AAAAAAAABJs/5zLduh9dQFA/s1600/jan+compost+12+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaDBHBM-YIE/TyKjX5aiQsI/AAAAAAAABJs/5zLduh9dQFA/s320/jan+compost+12+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">130 F - the interior temperature of the 2011 leaf pack pile (January 24, 201)<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A leaf compost sample was sent to the Penn State University Compost testing site earlier this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I will post the analysis results when they are recieved.</span> <br />
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</tbody></table>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-67624215530918962692012-01-15T17:53:00.000-05:002012-01-16T06:07:59.311-05:00Two Interesting Winter ReadsJust finished reading <u>The American Chestnut</u>: <u>the Life, Death and Rebirth of A Perfect Tree</u> by Susan Freinkel. An interesting read that tells the historical story of the American Chestnut tree and the on going decades effort to restore this tree, that was long gone by my birthday. For a review, click on the link below. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.susanfreinkel.com/books_American_Chestnut.html">http://www.susanfreinkel.com/books_American_Chestnut.html</a></div><br />
The other evening while watching the <u>PBS News Hour</u> I heard Karl Pillemer, Ph.D., (<span style="font-size: x-small;">researching gerontologist/Cornell University</span>) give a review of his new book <u>30 Lessons for Living - Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans</u>. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the link below.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june12/lifelessons_01-05.html">http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june12/lifelessons_01-05.html</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Both of these books are available in our local Pioneer Library System at: <a href="http://www.owwl.org/">http://www.owwl.org/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;">...check them out. They are good winter reads!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-89122714601879836152012-01-01T07:25:00.000-05:002012-01-01T07:25:26.443-05:002011 Notables on the Home FrontYesterday, I took a little time to review some of 2011's accomplishments. <br />
Here are <u>ten</u> in no particular order - <br />
<ol><li>Walked 1,541 local miles <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: red;"><em>...average = 4.2 miles/day & collected $69.70 for roadside deposit cans...primarily beer cans. </em><em>...<span style="font-size: small;">so</span> why are Gatorade, Vitamin drinks</em></span><span style="color: red;"> <em>, Brisk Tea, and chocolate milk product bottles NOT returnable<strong>?</strong> Got to look into this one.</em></span></span> </li>
<li>We drove 1000 miles less this year than last year<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: red;">...<em>let's see @ $.40/mile that is a savings to say nothing of the into town errands saved by walking instead. </em></span></span></li>
<li>$8.36 - the amount of loose change found along side of the roads while walking <span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><em>...I also found over a dozen, unopened cans of beer ...??? Yes, I know your next question. </em></span></li>
<li>The Photo Voltaic system generated 8033 kilowatt hours of electricity or over 100% of our electric power needs for 2011 <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="color: red;">... enough energy to light 803, 100 watt incandescent bulbs for an hour...right? Oh, incandescent bulbs will soon be history.</span></em> </span></li>
<li>Turned and screened 6 cubic yards of finished compost that was used in our garden & flower beds <span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><em>... that is roughly 6000 calories figuring 300 Calories/hour x 20 hours of turning, screening and loading/spreading.</em></span> </li>
<li>Collected conservatively 10+ tons of field stone from roadsides, hedges, and the work areas at local cemeteries <em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">(NO! not head stones!! ...lets see now ...80 wheel barrow loads @ 250 lbs/load...)</span></em> used to build a pond and free standing stone walls.</li>
<li>By recycling & composting, we are averaging 0.4 lbs/person of solid landfill waste/day. <em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">(...the <u><strong>national average is 4 lbs/person of solid landfill waste/day</strong></u>.)</span></em></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Volunteered 383 hours over the past year <em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">...or 7.4 hours/week.</span></em> </span></li>
<li>We have not purchased any vegetables, salad greens, jams or honey in 2011 <em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">...thinking <u>globally</u>, but acting <u>locally</u>.</span></em> </li>
<li>I've read 25 books from the local library system. <span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><em>(...mostly non-fiction, many from the NYT bestseller list.)</em></span></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">...It is on to the New Year! </span></span></em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Think I will go for a three hour walk before the rains come today.</span> </span></em></div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cols="2" frame="VOID" rules="NONE"><colgroup><col width="486"></col><col width="86"></col></colgroup> <tbody>
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</tbody> </table>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-68808442701422637502011-12-25T06:59:00.000-05:002011-12-25T07:47:04.460-05:00The Toy Chest<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Early last fall I promised my son and his wife that I would make a toy chest for our grandsons. Delivery would be on <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><strong>Christmas</strong></span> day. </div><div> </div><div align="left">....Well last week I could no longer procrastinate on my promise; so work began using the few, crude hand held tools that I had in my unheated log barn. After about<em> <span style="font-size:85%;">'45 thousand cuts (... and recuts)'</span></em> I put together the 'toy chest barn' pictured below. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Despite cold feet and fingers, it is fun to see the mental image transform into a physical stucture which I hope the boys will enjoy.</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690039552694485218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bedSOzYHdY/TvcU03hHAOI/AAAAAAAABGQ/NLt3dHtNalM/s400/002.JPG" /></span></div><p><span style="font-size:85%;"> Dimensions: </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Barn - 48" long x 24"wide x 30" at the barn peak. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"> Silo - 36" high (top of staves) x 6.5" wide. to the top of the staves. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Storage: </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Lift the roof panel off on the facing side and back lean-to section of the barn. I decided against hinges, thinking that little fingers could be pinched. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">The barn doors can be slid open or closed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"> The silo cap can be lifted off and the top 12" can hold some more 'stuff'. The bottom 24" contain two structural support disks.</span></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyo9EYy0biTp__QL_Bxu3XaqKb1Xq5b6g1YqLbkV_76_kStRag249N9yMllSdlM7qXb9yIEIgdFOZ2JL21W9w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-22160715959933663022011-12-09T17:47:00.000-05:002011-12-09T18:49:12.984-05:00How Sweet It Is!Yesterday I extracted and bottled 30+ pounds of honey. Since I don't have a honey extractor that removes honey from the comb by a centrifuge action, I followed the suggestion by a fellow hobbist beekeeper. I purchased two 5 gallon plastic buckets. Drilled 20 plus <span style="font-size:78%;">3/8th</span> inch holes in the bottom of the top bucket lined with a nylon, 5 gallon paint screen. This bucket was then placed ontop of the bottom bucket, with a large hole in it's lid. The bottom bucket served as the collecting bucket. A faucet from my scrap plumbing pile was added and <em>wha-laa!</em><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div align="right">... let the honey extraction begin</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>The plastic frames loaded with comb honey are scrapped into a collecting pan. </em><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybDUtC9B4fUb7zm0U4kmLEhJk6bZFiALKRaWImKFbTWQTbkEnDSGI6ieP9VjkNdCOTYIq7e2JVlm4zYAS4Bg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>The scappings are added to the top bucket to begin a 24 hour gravitational separation of honey from the wax. The honey drips into the bottom collecting bucket.</em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxq6ef2QyCQVFY1TJibHwAmIg3cVKIeYNGO0YKefgTnW9dUm8SAj7UqH0AwUsyviqxKyV4fKd7uYe6cmKXmeg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>While the jars filled, I designed a label.</em> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 263px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684265736649147314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Q8ODZSobpo/TuKRkinlg7I/AAAAAAAABEw/7g8JNuf6zVA/s400/Honey%2B027.jpg" /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684277432732195858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh7SzY5KES4/TuKcNV7FnBI/AAAAAAAABFI/EgV59G-afl0/s400/honey%2Blabel.bmp" /></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684278916926795058" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrzTb4XeIIo/TuKdju-p7TI/AAAAAAAABFg/ZJ0oEWRU2QU/s400/Honey%2B033.jpg" /></div></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-19635420771648632602011-11-30T06:45:00.000-05:002011-11-30T06:51:55.269-05:00Occupy ?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9h0wyiUpiS4/TtYYI4C33ZI/AAAAAAAABEk/gUJ6en3k2VM/s1600/Scan10002.BMP"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 377px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680754520736914834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9h0wyiUpiS4/TtYYI4C33ZI/AAAAAAAABEk/gUJ6en3k2VM/s400/Scan10002.BMP" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>With the recent removal of 'Occupy Wall Street' in New York City parks, I wondered how much of the materials removed will occupy our local landfills? </em></div><br /><div></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-10782458865724952432011-11-17T05:00:00.000-05:002011-11-17T05:45:02.704-05:00Timely Reads<div align="center">Just finished two interesting books that are available in our local library system. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Because I Love You -The Silent Shadow of Child Sexual Abuse </strong>by Joyce Allan is a memoir documenting the authors' search to understand her own sexual abuse by her father and his extensive abuse of so many others, including her own children years later. Her journey to restore some sense of normalacy to her life involved decades of interviews with family members, employers, and follow up leads suggested by others in the search to uncover and understand the extent of child sexual abuse by her father. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">The other book currently on the NY Times Best Seller list is <strong>A Stolen Life</strong> by Jaycee Dugard. In 1991 when Jaycee was just eleven years old she was abducted on her way to school and for the next eighteen years she describes how she copped with the physical/mental control by her abductors. Jaycee endured sexual abuse, isolation, boredom, pregnancy and the loss of those milestone events in our lives from elementary school through adulthood. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Both books are excellent reads, especially as the events at Penn State currently unfold. </div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-88107579867793159682011-11-04T07:37:00.000-04:002011-11-04T17:57:55.998-04:00... another 'trinity'?<div align="center">Yesterday, I took a break from raking and stacking my leaves to rake and stack my parent's leaves. I tarped, stacked, soaked and tramped down 16 piles of yard leaves into a compact 6x6x6 foot pile of leaves that will rot down into finished compost, which can be used to amend their garden soil. </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Of course with the repetitive raking and leaf stacking process I had <em><strong>time to reflect</strong></em> on the three piles that were generated. </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></div></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">I think the captions will illustrate where my thinking wandered off to this time.</div><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>...click on the photo and you will obtain a full screen view which may be easier to read. </em></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xkdon9HmNvA/TrPOrgoEqOI/AAAAAAAABEA/d1Hq22MLuc0/s1600/Trinity%2Bcompost%2B013.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 262px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671103602677295330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xkdon9HmNvA/TrPOrgoEqOI/AAAAAAAABEA/d1Hq22MLuc0/s400/Trinity%2Bcompost%2B013.jpg" /></em></span></a>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-78121850784073903612011-10-25T20:11:00.000-04:002011-10-25T20:41:21.218-04:00Once A Pond after more Time<div align="center">The electrical lines have been run and the rain water drain pipes connecting barn and house run off to the pond have been connected. A pump & scimmer circulate water several hours a day. </div><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='297' height='239' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjA89CLH2QSn-A_xaOuHxedY3dsXK7fHHjAKNZFqyclz49D5gwf0DYckhjOkT-I7J9eggOIpCK5Nb6Xusblw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center">A short video looking east across the pond. </p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667589691682203474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0Pl_dk2DYk/TqdSy-FiJ1I/AAAAAAAABCk/FI7CGItxksk/s400/Rock%2Bwall%2Bppt%2B016.jpg" /></p><br /><p>The fish spend most of their time at the pond's deep end. </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwbz4c0NbJHX2De2omz6YTbVHRTpaH8dpTedqydjV1N2jmO1VQ4z5azyPJrUUvYPpbyeHVlBFgCB1MBvOuvyQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center">Another video clip from the other side of the pond. </p>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-40904382639345264642011-10-07T07:56:00.000-04:002011-10-07T08:31:15.333-04:00Once A POND of TIME!<div align="center">Each fall we bring our fish in for the winter. The problem is that some of these fish are getting too large, so I decided to construct a pond where they can over winter as well as add another demension to our landscape. </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></div></span><br /><div align="center">Yee-WOH!</div><br /><div align="center">What a lot of work. </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></div></span><br /><div align="center">Below is a photo dialogue of the construction to date.</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></div></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Over the past year I have been redigging and enlarging a smaller pond that did NOT work. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This pond is 40'(l) x 18'(w) x 1.5-4'(d). </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The line represents the expected water level. </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sO818WZMrf0/To7q82gWMwI/AAAAAAAABCU/7uGRj5P4wY0/s1600/stuff%2B006.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660720112795529986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sO818WZMrf0/To7q82gWMwI/AAAAAAAABCU/7uGRj5P4wY0/s400/stuff%2B006.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> The pond was first cover with a protective underlayer and then a thick, heavy rubber liner that had to be tugged into place. <br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660721801306705314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ED2vvR80vM/To7sfIsyDaI/AAAAAAAABCc/Q2SIOC-sq5g/s400/stuff%2B001.jpg" /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Field stones were collected to line the pond. The stones will protect the liner from UV light and will provide a biofriendlier pond environment. To date 45 wheel barrow loads of field stones were hand loaded from a hedge row 0.3 miles away. Each load was dumped, rinsed, reloaded and then at the pond - hand placed to create a solid layer of stones. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This was alot of work!<br /></div></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkSWizmRCi4/To7qLVWVv4I/AAAAAAAABCE/1pQlksu8Buw/s1600/stuff%2B001.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660719262081597314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkSWizmRCi4/To7qLVWVv4I/AAAAAAAABCE/1pQlksu8Buw/s400/stuff%2B001.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Over 200 ft of 4" drain pipe in the hand dug ditch will channel rain water from the house and barn to the pond.</span> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQC8in1G628/To7p6Jz1RbI/AAAAAAAABB8/J9apUWlxzGg/s1600/stuff%2B011.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660718966926296498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQC8in1G628/To7p6Jz1RbI/AAAAAAAABB8/J9apUWlxzGg/s400/stuff%2B011.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> A morning view of the pond.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IdYr48Jo5Qc/To7poWOHxBI/AAAAAAAABB0/1KySPe5HyKU/s1600/stuff%2B003.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660718661020140562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IdYr48Jo5Qc/To7poWOHxBI/AAAAAAAABB0/1KySPe5HyKU/s400/stuff%2B003.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> An evening view. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">I love the reflections!<br /></span></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9t_T39Fg6k/To7pZpm5I3I/AAAAAAAABBs/PSMp3QUPnwM/s1600/stuff%2B013.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660718408526275442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9t_T39Fg6k/To7pZpm5I3I/AAAAAAAABBs/PSMp3QUPnwM/s400/stuff%2B013.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">An electrical line, a pump and further landscaping will need to be added to complete the job.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="right"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>... and add the fish to their new home!</strong></span></em></div></div><br /></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-32757678046370394722011-10-03T07:07:00.000-04:002011-10-04T06:55:35.073-04:00... Picking Up PawPaws, Put'em In a Basket<div align="center">We have two PawPaw fruit trees (<em><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Asimina triloba - </span></strong><a href="http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/</span></strong></a></em>) in our back yard and this year we had a bumper crop of these lumpy, fat fruits. A ripe pawpaw has a 'bananna/custard' flavor. We have been eating fresh pawpaws and spitting out the large seeds. Not wanting to let the fruit spoil, I decided this morning to look up a bananna bread receipe and make a couple of loaves of pawpaw bread, substituting the pawpaws for banannas. </div><br /><br /><div align="center">It smells and tastes good!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Om0hj7YOmU/TomXw3SUu0I/AAAAAAAABA0/7QDhKaI5q1I/s1600/stuff%2B002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659221272498060098" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Om0hj7YOmU/TomXw3SUu0I/AAAAAAAABA0/7QDhKaI5q1I/s400/stuff%2B002.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The childhood song below was my first introduction to pawpaws. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Maybe it is familar to you too.<br /></div></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Where, oh where is dear little Susie?<br />Where, oh where is dear little Susie?<br />Where, oh where is dear little Susie?<br />Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch!<br /><br />Common boys, let's go find her.<br />Common boy, let's go find her.<br />Common boys, let's go find her.<br />Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch!<br /><br />Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in her pocket.<br />Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in her pocket.<br />Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in her pocket.<br />Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch! </em></span></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-54625117962186486132011-09-15T08:09:00.000-04:002011-09-15T08:21:27.667-04:00Aging ... the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SHNISlQya4/TnHtEReFNoI/AAAAAAAABAU/y1g1JC4kCEQ/s1600/july%2B21%2B004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652559664991516290" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8SHNISlQya4/TnHtEReFNoI/AAAAAAAABAU/y1g1JC4kCEQ/s200/july%2B21%2B004.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center">Jason baked a birthday a chocolate cake for my 65<span style="font-size:78%;">th</span> last weekend. </div><br /><div align="center">The cake theme emphasized my never ending interest in composting worms.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25N_1YkLK4M/TnHrDC910rI/AAAAAAAABAM/BXAH1mdacnw/s1600/compost%2Bcake"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652557444895068850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25N_1YkLK4M/TnHrDC910rI/AAAAAAAABAM/BXAH1mdacnw/s400/compost%2Bcake" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-63537609436552889252011-09-05T15:56:00.000-04:002011-09-05T16:39:38.404-04:00Rainy Day Forgery<div align="center">We've been repairing the log barn eves trough this past week. Transporting the water from the barn eves trough to the wood shed roof required bending the eves trough to diagonally run onto the shed roof. Since we needed a bracket to anchor the eves trough to the shed, Jason cobbled together a forge using scrap plumbing materials, an orphaned air matress pump and the buttom section of our old bread maker from the scrap metal pile. The coal and pieces of iron were both found in one of the abandon dumps in the greater Marbletown area. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Below is a little photo essay of the process. </div><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The unbraced eves trough<br /></span></em><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy8297PxW_mUG3K2HTkuDOmfa5qMFJH3MDqlbsqV1p4Lq8xl5ERgISf94uGgqizSdbpdrlPYNZ4knX9UG2ajQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The coal</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWxYVo8yt9g/TmUtfjGJAzI/AAAAAAAAA_8/BGN70VRO_88/s1600/bracket%2B002.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648971327626347314" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWxYVo8yt9g/TmUtfjGJAzI/AAAAAAAAA_8/BGN70VRO_88/s200/bracket%2B002.jpg" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The forge<br /></span></em><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxINrgRdf-C6bKOjw4sFkYYt5D0ncqd_phlSRRyeaxE6iaxfQFjM7P3iTQRoPUNTvOlbUSGEwzWY5p4mBLveg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Putting a bend in the bracket</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzTX5dwy-Zsb0jkA_tyvVYCj-rAmXrzzyLbhtxWIVBoTz0gOSbUSo1UJNQg3hBclFw2PN-Q84WK3kHlca5C9w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Hardening the steel<br /></span></em><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwv7yXYJ-0B_sAeApLNq6pI1by2A9TZlumNEJwZsDP2M1Gig0cWOIODeG56QmZ-aKTrV4RsxS4OR8Fgk2zYlQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The installed bracket now holds the eves trough in place</span></em></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648974440604114114" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJwvqCYaNX8/TmUwUv14HMI/AAAAAAAABAE/eXgxko_uEQk/s400/bracket%2B001.jpg" /> <br /><p align="right"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">... of course it would have been the consumption oriented American thing to go make another purchase at the big box store</span></em><em><span style="font-size:78%;">. </span></em></p>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-469686829226052252011-08-23T20:46:00.000-04:002011-08-27T06:05:23.563-04:00Straw Potato Harvest<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nz_R6z4d_2w/TlRMJvTKbjI/AAAAAAAAA_0/u94yM9RbgdQ/s1600/Horticulture%2B005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644219963201449522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nz_R6z4d_2w/TlRMJvTKbjI/AAAAAAAAA_0/u94yM9RbgdQ/s400/Horticulture%2B005.jpg" /></a>I harvested 52 pounds of straw potatoes today (<span style="font-size:78%;"><em>22 lbs of Yukon Gold & 32 lbs of Katadin</em></span>), generated from my orginal planting back on May 7<span style="font-size:78%;">th</span>. Five pounds of each potato variety were cut up and placed in a shallow trench. The potato rows were covered with a layer of finished compost (<em><span style="font-size:85%;">2009 yard leaves</span></em>). When the potatoes emerged, I then banked them with a thick layer of old hay bale slices. As you can see in the short video clip below, I was able to 'tickle' the potatoes out without using a potato fork, which usually stabs and injures many potatoes.
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwBPxqm4EDc0M7vm2wam1GaYgauviY9ihwAZUktew1XJx7VUvioZEKb4-kkzaQAOTaXjvXlnYLMUp9J0d_aog' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>
<br />Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2137133090053091561.post-90336779326277901062011-07-16T18:11:00.000-04:002011-07-17T04:35:34.869-04:00'...corn as high as an elephants' eye'<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7YXY_vJNGRI/TiKecPbSKgI/AAAAAAAAA-k/6B-kArh2W9E/s1600/nolan%2B-%2Bjune%2B9-11%2B009.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div align="center">July16<span style="font-size:78%;">th</span>, </div><br /><div align="center">....despite the <em>hot</em>, <em>dry </em>weather, </div><br /><div align="center">the sweet corn<strong> IS</strong> as high as an elephant's eye!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31gBXHzIXJw/TiIM9JfrInI/AAAAAAAAA-c/EfzrVGR4AUg/s1600/nolan%2B-%2Bjune%2B9-11%2B011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630076728826864242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31gBXHzIXJw/TiIM9JfrInI/AAAAAAAAA-c/EfzrVGR4AUg/s400/nolan%2B-%2Bjune%2B9-11%2B011.jpg" /></a> </div>Gerry Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050281739626851162noreply@blogger.com0