Soggy weekend

Friday was nicer than it was supposed to be, so I went up to the US Army Corps and updated my park pass (you may recall mine was expired when I went to Fort Stanwix).  I didn't get any good pictures (I went up at lunch and didn't stop for pictures), but the place is right on the Contoocook dam, and it was actually quite pretty up there.

 

One downside of Friday being nicer than expected though: it was a lot warmer than expected.  I also discovered that my only remaining mini-split doesn't cool anymore; I changed it to cool mode, and it did nothing but circulate air.  Sigh.  I will definitely need to get someone out here to fix these pieces of crap. I might just replace them.  I have had three failures in a little over a year.  Do I really want to rely on these units?  Replacing them is really expensive though.

 

The storms started late Friday afternoon, so I didn't do much else.  Saturday I was dodging storms most of the day, but I  did get a few bits done.  So I started removing the seats in the CR-V.  It was surprisingly simple, only 4 bolts in each seat under a plastic cover with tabs.  Side note on this picture, the panel in the back is actually a shelf for the CR-V.  I didn't realize that, and it is actually kind of cool.  There is another layer there so you don't get into the spare tire well.

It quickly became clear that the detailing shop didn't clean under here.  

If Aunt needs it, I found their Dunkin' receipt from 2011.  Just in case.

 

Most of the bolts came out without issue, but the last one was rusted in.  I ended up taking it out with vice grips.  They were supposedly 13mm bolts, but my 13 didn't fit very well.  

 

I did a quick test fit.  I will need to improve my flexibility, getting in was a pain, but once in I fit without issue. My feet didn't touch the passenger seat, and I was far enough in t hat the tailgate would close.  

I can sit up without smacking my head too, as long as I don't make the bed too thick.  I have about 3 inches or so of headroom.

 

All that was left is to clean up the back, so I went into town for some baking soda.  My plan is to put down baking soda to deoderize the back and then vacuum it up since this area wasn't cleaned.  As soon as I left though, the storms arrived.  Made for an interesting drive in on flash flooded roads.

 

I succeeded though, I got some baking soda and some pads to put down so I am not sitting directly on the sending unit of the gas tank.

 

Sunday morning I somehow woke up before the storms moved in, and went out to Otter Brook.  The water was high.  

There were also a couple of trees down blocking paths.  

 

Considering the park opens next week, I was a little surprised at how unready the place appears.  

Happy tree.  

When I finished the short loop (the long loop had trees down), you could see that the storms were coming.

 

I did quickly vacuum out the car when I got home.  My regular vacuum was more accessible than my shop vac.

 

I also got the baking soda put down with thunder rumbling as I did so.  I have no clue if I did it correctly.  I have read that if your vacuum filters and seals aren't up to the task it can do bad things to the vacuum (baking soda particles are small enough to slip in and damage the motor), so I will be doing the vacuuming at one of those car wash places.  I do my shopping on Monday, so I will just head to the car wash place before doing my shopping.

 

I also pulled out a spare PC and got it booted, Uncle has been having PC issues of late, and this was just sitting in a box after I fixed it (this used to be Dad's PC).  I took a quick trip out and delivered it.

 

My next couple of weekends are taken up already (next week is the LAN, and I am visiting Tim and possibly testing the CR-V setup the following weekend), so I am going to try to get the excavator started during the week, though I also need to pick up a portable AC or two since apparently neither mini-split is working at the moment.  Hopefully the excavator just needs the charger tossed on it, I did run it a couple of times during the winter, but I would prefer it be dry when I am playing with electronics outside.  I also need to change the oil in the mowers, my yard is shin deep, and deeper in spots, and get moving on that.

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