CR-V getting close

It was rather toasty Thursday, but thankfully my house didn't heat up too much.  

 

I worked from home on Friday, so I had some time while on breaks to make the modifications required to the sleeping platform.   

 

Friday after work unfortunately it had started raining.  And it rained all day Saturday too.  I did catch one small break in the rain in the afternoon and decided to test fit the buildout.  

 

It unfortunately didn't fit the way that I originally planned.  Guess I should have tested it a bit better, or at all.  

 

After that it started raining again, so I waited until Sunday (Happy Father's Day Dad!) to make all the modifications needed.  They didn't take too long.  

 

It is a tight fit, but it fits.  It still needs sanding so it doesn't tear up the inside of the CR-V.

 

After that I turned my attention to the backyard and excavator.  I got the tarp that failed to cover the excavator for the winter removed.  It was full of critters so I will roll it up and throw it away later.

 

I got the back yard mowed.  The taller stuff in the back was up to the seat of the excavator.  I literally had to go over everything twice, and the thicker spots three times.

 

I got all the way back to the steps mowed.

 

I was pretty tired at that point since it was so tall the self propelling on the mower was useless.  I did get the front portion of the sleeping platform cut though.  

 

In case I needed to go in today, I got everything put in the CR-V needed to finish it up so I can finish it up at work if needed.

 

I then started to pull the battery out of the excavator, but was running out of daylight at this point.  

 

 

 

Available Projects and annual tasks:

• Dunks and bug repellent.
• Clean up yard
• Take scrap metal away
• Finish cleanup on the pile in the back 
• Do something with the trailer.
• Fix excavator
  
• Finish drainage
• Build deck
• Push back trees
• Install concrete pilings
• Install landscape fabric and gravel underneath
• Build frame
• Lay decking
  
• Set up hot tub and pool
• Build insulated platform for hot tub
• Put down pool sand to level spot for pool
• Get water delivered for both
  
• Fix mowers and equipment
• Get tractor serviced
• Build travel station for CR-V/prep CR-V for travel
  
• Move carport
• Build the roof extension over to the rocks
• Fix front stairs 
• Test travel options (rent u-haul and test that, rent trailer and test that)
• Install storm doors
• Build overhangs for windows
• Insulate the water lines
  
• Front yard drainage
• Fix snowblowers (broken grease fitting on big snowblower, gas leak on small one)
  
• Gravel/hardpack driveway
• Fix grade to the shed
• Level a spot for a lean-to up the hill
• Build a small lean-to for off-season equipment
• Make shed mouse-tight 
• Create walking trails (put up markers, maybe put down some gravel).
• Clear and level a spot for orchard
• Build a bridge over the creek
• Build a gazebo or something on the other side

Haying my yard.

Tuesday was my shopping day, so I didn't get anything done then (though Heather will be happy I found some of the blueberry tea for her assuming I don't drink it all...).  I had yesterday off because my follow up appointment was early in the afternoon.  I admittedly didn't get anything done until about 11AM other than napping. So after going to the appointment, and stopping to go for a walk around Otter Brook on the way back (I was the only person there which was nice), I decided to get some work done, despite the angry clouds that were around in the afternoon.  

 

The first thing I did was I mowed my way back to the excavator, and mowed the sides of the ditch.  It was really bad and needed it.  My ditch has frogs in it, probably since it has been wet for months now.

 

I then hayed the part of the yard over by the tiny home.  This is the first mowing for it for the year, but it needed it a month ago.  It was still really wet, but I mowed it anyways.

 

While I had the mower running (it hasn't liked starting this year), I mowed the rest of the yard too.  It needed it as well, but wasn't at the point where it could be used for hay since this is what I had mowed last week (or maybe it was two weeks ago at this point?).  

 

I was running out of daylight at that point, but I still got the piece of wood cut for the CR-V.  I just need to smooth it and fit it a bit better.  It is two feet wide, and if I measured correctly, should fit side by side with the conversion, even without any special fitting.  

 

I still need to make the hinged part (so I can access storage underneath on the floor).  This is the idea, the dot being hinged.  I am undecided on the bend being hinged; it doesn't need to be in the car, but it might make it easier to store when not in the car, though I expect once everything is installed, I won't be swapping it and the seats around often.

 

 

It looks like the weekend will once again be marred with rain.  Turns out this is a record for consecutive Saturdays with rain. I heard this nugget on the radio driving in today: https://www.wmur.com/article/concord-nh-rainy-saturdays-record-06102025/65027100

It is still too early, but I might have to put off the roof extension to next year at this point.  I think I might call it a year after the deck/patio, since I will almost assuredly not be able to afford to pay someone to do it (which was the original plan).  I did find some free sand (not ideal, but still usable), but it is over an hour away, which is annoying.  

 

Available Projects and annual tasks:

• Dunks and bug repellent.
• Clean up yard
• Take scrap metal away
• Finish cleanup on the pile in the back 
• Do something with the trailer.
• Fix excavator
  
• Finish drainage
• Build deck
• Push back trees
• Install concrete pilings
• Install landscape fabric and gravel underneath
• Build frame
• Lay decking
  
• Set up hot tub and pool
• Build insulated platform for hot tub
• Put down pool sand to level spot for pool
• Get water delivered for both
  
• Fix mowers and equipment
• Get tractor serviced
• Build travel station for CR-V/prep CR-V for travel
  
• Move carport
• Build the roof extension over to the rocks
• Fix front stairs 
• Test travel options (rent u-haul and test that, rent trailer and test that)
• Install storm doors
• Build overhangs for windows
• Insulate the water lines
  
• Front yard drainage
• Fix snowblowers (broken grease fitting on big snowblower, gas leak on small one)
  
• Gravel/hardpack driveway
• Fix grade to the shed
• Level a spot for a lean-to up the hill
• Build a small lean-to for off-season equipment
• Make shed mouse-tight 
• Create walking trails (put up markers, maybe put down some gravel).
• Clear and level a spot for orchard
• Build a bridge over the creek
• Build a gazebo or something on the other side

 

Guess what, another wet and soggy weekend.

Last weekend wasn't as productive as I hoped, but it was also more wet and soggy than I expected.  Saturday rained pretty much all day.  It was supposed to be intermittent showers.  I got my air conditioners set up.  

 

The vents don't fit very well.  As soon as I find my vinyl tape I will seal this all up though.

 

Sunday wasn't as sunny as it was supposed to be either.  I did get my solar panel out and tested though.   

The peak I saw was around 80W, which for a 120W panel isn't great, though it is off-angle.  It was pulling in an impressive 30W while cloudy though.  If I have both fridges running they draw around 60-70W though, so this should be enough.

 

It folds up pretty nicely, so it shouldn't be difficult to stow away.  The reason for this is for trips like the last one; I stayed near most of the attractions on the last trip, so I only had a few minutes of driving to charge the Jackery for several consecutive days.  As a result, I had to yank the battery and charge it a few times.  This hopefully will alleviate most of the charging, since I can just plop this on the roof, and run the cables inside. 

 

I also got the rest of the padding for the CR-V done and glued it all together.  The glue tube exploded when I opened it, you normally have to puncture the end but this one didn't have a barrier there.

 

I left some weight on it, and will find out this evening how it holds.  

 

All the grass was still sopping wet at that point; the humidity was insane on Sunday, and nothing dried out.  I then decided to go out for a walk.  Surprisingly Otter Brook was pretty empty, even if the weather was less than desirable.  The water was unsurprisingly high.  This is usually dried up by now.  

 

The main brook was high.

 

They did clean up the trees that were down, but the beach was empty.

 

You can see that the way down to the beach was flooded recently, the flotsam went almost to the parking lot.

 

I got the plywood marked out for the bed platform, but didn't get it cut. I started to reorganize the carport to get the battery charger out, but called it a day after that.  Yesterday I didn't quite leave early enough to beat the rain.  

 

I did have a couple of things come in yesterday though.  My new blood pressure monitor arrived, and I also picked up a bat house.  The bugs have been really bad this year.  I have seen bats around, so I am hoping putting up a house will convince more of them to stay.

 

 

Available Projects and annual tasks:

• Dunks and bug repellent.
• Clean up yard
• Take scrap metal away
• Finish cleanup on the pile in the back 
• Do something with the trailer.
• Fix excavator
  
• Finish drainage
• Build deck
• Push back trees
• Install concrete pilings
• Install landscape fabric and gravel underneath
• Build frame
• Lay decking
  
• Set up hot tub and pool
• Build insulated platform for hot tub
• Put down pool sand to level spot for pool
• Get water delivered for both
  
• Fix mowers and equipment
• Get tractor serviced
• Build travel station for CR-V/prep CR-V for travel
  
• Move carport
• Build the roof extension over to the rocks
• Fix front stairs 
• Test travel options (rent u-haul and test that, rent trailer and test that)
• Install storm doors
• Build overhangs for windows
• Insulate the water lines
  
• Front yard drainage
• Fix snowblowers (broken grease fitting on big snowblower, gas leak on small one)
  
• Gravel/hardpack driveway
• Fix grade to the shed
• Level a spot for a lean-to up the hill
• Build a small lean-to for off-season equipment
• Make shed mouse-tight 
• Create walking trails (put up markers, maybe put down some gravel).
• Clear and level a spot for orchard
• Build a bridge over the creek
• Build a gazebo or something on the other side

 

A very unfun expensive weekend

Last weekend was a rough one.  I felt bad Thursday, tried to sleep it off, it got worse on Friday, so I made the mistake of going to urgent care, which apparently is only useful if you break your arm or something.  After 4 hours of agony, they finally transferred me to the ER where I should have gone in the first place (to be fair, I thought it was a stomach bug or something, I had no idea it was pancreatitis).  So my weekend was spent in the hospital.  I will refrain from dumping on the hospital too much here, but suffice it to say that even in the low standards that is American healthcare, this place deserves its poor rating.  I was released Monday afternoon.  I promptly slept literally the rest of the day and a good chunk of the day yesterday too, before finally dragging myself out and going shopping and doing some chores.  They didn't find the cause, but I am at least functional again.  Now I just await the bill, at which point some interesting juggling will be done.  I expect it to push the bounds of my out of pocket maximum.  

It was rather chilly in the house while I was gone, but it was nice out and my couch is right by the windows, so it wasn't a big deal.  

Saturday while I was in the hospital was a lot of heavy rain (because it hadn't rained in a day).  It created a couple little channels in the driveway I might want to fix.

Not too much has happened since I got home, but I did have a peeping tom the other day.  This was taken from my master bathroom window.

 Tomorrow and Saturday are supposed to rain again, which is really annoying, but at least the rough stuff is on Friday and Saturday is just showers.  If they are intermittent, I can still get stuff for the CR-V conversion ready, like get the bottom layer of padding done, get the plywood cut for the bed, and so on.  I am not 100% yet, but should be close by the weekend.  

 

Available Projects and annual tasks:

• Dunks and bug repellent.
• Clean up yard
• Take scrap metal away
• Finish cleanup on the pile in the back 
• Do something with the trailer.
• Fix excavator
  
• Finish drainage
• Build deck
• Push back trees
• Install concrete pilings
• Install landscape fabric and gravel underneath
• Build frame
• Lay decking
  
• Set up hot tub and pool
• Build insulated platform for hot tub
• Put down pool sand to level spot for pool
• Get water delivered for both
  
• Fix mowers and equipment
• Get tractor serviced
• Build travel station for CR-V/prep CR-V for travel
  
• Move carport
• Build the roof extension over to the rocks
• Fix front stairs 
• Test travel options (rent u-haul and test that, rent trailer and test that)
• Install storm doors
• Build overhangs for windows
• Insulate the water lines
  
• Front yard drainage
• Fix snowblowers (broken grease fitting on big snowblower, gas leak on small one)
  
• Gravel/hardpack driveway
• Fix grade to the shed
• Level a spot for a lean-to up the hill
• Build a small lean-to for off-season equipment
• Make shed mouse-tight 
• Create walking trails (put up markers, maybe put down some gravel).
• Clear and level a spot for orchard
• Build a bridge over the creek
• Build a gazebo or something on the other side

 

LANParty Weekend and finally mowing.

Last weekend I was at the LAN, and didn't get a whole lot done.  Before I left, my new UPS came in.  If you think it looks an awful lot like a power bank, you would be correct.  Unlike my UPS, this should run things for more than a few minutes should I lose power.  I can also use it as a power bank if needed.  I have some solar panels to test, but haven't gotten there yet.

I thought the cables it came with were kind of weird, but it is correct according to the user manual.  It comes with MC4 splitters (MC4 is the most common solar panel connector), but it doesn't come with the MC4 to XT60 connectors (what is on the unit) to plug the panels in.  So it comes with solar splitters, but no way to get that solar into the unit.  

Here are some pictures from the LAN.  The drive through Vermont to get there was quite pretty.

Hot tub.

While there, I did a little bit more research on trailers.  I found a couple that would work for my purposes: https://alumaklm.com/products/utility/tandem-axle/8200wbdof-series/ and https://www.fthr.com/product/utility-trailers/open-utility/model-3110/ though while they were recommended by Arnett's in KY, I would order them in NH (so I can avoid several hundred in sales tax).  I also came up with a more polished floorplan.  I am still struggling with weight balance and the distribution of utilities.

At one point I forgot to turn my fan off before going to bed.  It made it through the night on high, though it was a rather short night since I was staying up late but still getting up at my normal time.  You can't tell because the picture sucks, but the fan was still at 15%.

I rolled over 100k on the way there.

 

When I got home, it was quite chilly in the house.

 

So I figured what better way to warm the place up than to test the power bank UPS.  Turns out my air fryer is within 100W of the output limit on it, so I just used that to test it.  All went well.

 

Tuesday I went up to UNH (University of NH) and their IOL (InterOperability Lab) for some testing on a board for work.  I discovered on the drive there there is a store in Concord that sells rare and more exotic meats, the Healthy Buffalo (https://healthybuffalo.com).  They are only a little over an hour away too.  They were unfortunately closed on Tuesdays, but might be worth paying them a visit.

Wednesday I came back to the office to a borked computer.  It took ICT most of the day to at least get it booting again (and is why I didn't write this yesterday).  

 

When I got home however, it was time to do oil changes.  I should probably check the plugs, but I didn't.   It took a little bit for me to remember, but I did remember the trick to draining the tractor.  I hate that stupid plastic drain thing, but oh well.  

 

I checked the oil in the pushmower, and it was still clear, so I just left it.  I only used the push mower a couple of times all last year.  So while the tractor was draining (the stupid plastic thing is slower than death), I fired up the pushmower and mowed with it.  It surprisingly started second pull.

 

My yard was bad.

 

I got a few loops done with the push mower, then went to finish the tractor.

 

I got the tractor to fire up too.  It still is definitely not running right, but it runs and mows for the most part, so I don't care. 

 

I managed to get most of this side knocked down and mowed before it was getting dark.  

 

This morning before coming in, I finally got around to taping the decking support together.  I just need to finish attaching the other support pieces, and cut the plywood for the bed.  Unfortunately I won't get to it today at work (my lunch is consumed with paying property taxes and whatnot), and as long as the rain holds out, will likely be mowing when I get home. 

 

Hopefully the weather holds out, there is currently only a chance of rain on Saturday and it is supposed to be nice on Sunday, so I can finish up the excavator.  If it does rain on Saturday, I might just finish digging the trench by hand.  The hope is to have a bed platform cut for the CR-V and the excavator working by next week.

 

Available Projects and annual tasks:

• Dunks and bug repellent.
• Clean up yard
• Take scrap metal away
• Finish cleanup on the pile in the back 
• Do something with the trailer.
• Fix excavator
  
• Finish drainage
• Build deck
• Push back trees
• Install concrete pilings
• Install landscape fabric and gravel underneath
• Build frame
• Lay decking
  
• Set up hot tub and pool
• Build insulated platform for hot tub
• Put down pool sand to level spot for pool
• Get water delivered for both
  
• Fix mowers and equipment
• Get tractor serviced
• Build travel station for CR-V/prep CR-V for travel
  
• Move carport
• Build the roof extension over to the rocks
• Fix front stairs 
• Test travel options (rent u-haul and test that, rent trailer and test that)
• Install storm doors
• Build overhangs for windows
• Insulate the water lines
  
• Front yard drainage
• Fix snowblowers (broken grease fitting on big snowblower, gas leak on small one)
  
• Gravel/hardpack driveway
• Fix grade to the shed
• Level a spot for a lean-to up the hill
• Build a small lean-to for off-season equipment
• Make shed mouse-tight 
• Create walking trails (put up markers, maybe put down some gravel).
• Clear and level a spot for orchard
• Build a bridge over the creek
• Build a gazebo or something on the other side