I should not have but did anyway...

[SidecarFlip]

Really jumped the gun on shutting down and cleaning the unit. Got warm and I got antsy and took apart everything (including the venting) and cleaned everything. pressure washed out the venting, capped the Cleanout tee. fogged the firebox, greased the drives, oiled the fan motors...and the weather got cold again, so we are on propane...duh.

Got plenty of fuel (pellets and corn) in the barn and every time I walk by the stone cold stove, I contemplate lighting it up but, I don't want to reassemble the venting (it's stored in the shop) and I don't want to clean it a second time so. I'm biting the bullet and using the high buck propane. Gotta keep the Missus warm. Happy wife, happy life.

40's here at night and 60 in the day. Shoulda, coulda but screwed up.

Next season I won't mothball it until the 4th of July.

Too cold to plant any crops too. Oh well.

 

[Washed-Up]

It happens....just because of where I live....its ready to go even after the summer cleaning....some years we get snow here every month of the year

 

[clancey]

Be patient and spend the money for you will have plenty of other things to put your time in and Thank goodness that job is done..Maybe about two more weeks of up and down then summer will hit quickly and you will be glad that job is finished--Yes...clancey Yes.

 

[tlc1976]

We always get the spring tease and people start things prematurely only to be fooled.

We had 30s and snow last week, and more of the same coming for this week.

Usually it’s over after the 2nd week of May. Except 2009 which was like the year without a summer.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Worried about my apple trees right now. We have about a dozen and squeeze cider every year. Love apple cider. We get very popular when the cider press is going.

 

[Teddyb]

Worried about my apple trees right now. We have about a dozen and squeeze cider every year. Love apple cider. We get very popular when the cider press is going.

 

[Teddyb]

Here in Cincinnati Wednesday only high of 45 with wintry mix all day,then lows in thirties for couple of mornings.

 

[ABusWrench]

Worried about my apple trees right now. We have about a dozen and squeeze cider every year. Love apple cider. We get very popular when the cider press is going.

I hear ya! Stove has been off for 2 weeks. Still have a ton left. Least amount I've used in 7 yrs. We've already been in the low 80's. Calling for lows of 32 Tuesday, 27 Wednesday and 32 again on Thursday. So the stove will be running again for a couple days. Our pear trees have already bloomed, flowers on the ground. But the apple trees are just blooming now. They will be in trouble. Local apples may be in short supply this summer. We have a local cider mill down the road. Hope they aren't affected, they make the best cider around.

 

[clancey]

Don't know if this will help for I know "nothing" about growing things especially nice apple trees but you can check it out anyway..We have peaches in my state--famous peaches--forget the name---I am old...But what they do is sprinkle some water on them to help insulate them --I guess---maybe not--but check out what you can do for your pretty apple trees .clancey

 

[SidecarFlip]

Don't know if this will help for I know "nothing" about growing things especially nice apple trees but you can check it out anyway..We have peaches in my state--famous peaches--forget the name---I am old...But what they do is sprinkle some water on them to help insulate them --I guess---maybe not--but check out what you can do for your pretty apple trees .clancey

Apple blossoms on apple trees (and every other variety of fruit trees are really touchy about freezing temps.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I hear ya! Stove has been off for 2 weeks. Still have a ton left. Least amount I've used in 7 yrs. We've already been in the low 80's. Calling for lows of 32 Tuesday, 27 Wednesday and 32 again on Thursday. So the stove will be running again for a couple days. Our pear trees have already bloomed, flowers on the ground. But the apple trees are just blooming now. They will be in trouble. Local apples may be in short supply this summer. We have a local cider mill down the road. Hope they aren't affected, they make the best cider around.

We get accused of that here too and I only 'squeeze' apples from our trees.

We have a large cider press and I put it in clean 1 gallon plastic jugs and they all 'vanish' pretty quick. Tell people to freeze it because we don't pasteurize it so it gets hard pretty quick. Always interesting making apple cider. The bees get drunk on what spills on the concrete.. 2 guys filling the shredder and another manning the 'squeeze' container and me manning the motor that drives the shredder. I take shredded and squeezed pulp and use it for garden compost.

Have at least 3 ton of corn in the barn and 3 pallets of pellets, all stretch wrapped and stacked in the far corner. Got more coming btw. (corn). Pellets, only if the price comes down at TSC, which I'm sure it will this summer. They must have 40 skids out back

 

[SidecarFlip]

Dodged the bullet on the apple trees. They are just starting to blossom now so I'd say I'm in the clear for red delicious and Jonathans this year. I have one crab apple and I take some of them and add to the cider for a bit of tartness.

If I need apples, I take the side by side and cruise the sideroads looking for trees to pick and if I find any, I always give the owner a jug of cider. Works pretty well actually.

Got the garden tilled up and fertilized today so next up is planting potatoes and sweet corn.

Gonna do Sauerkraut this year but I don't need to grow cabbage. I get all I could ever use down the road from a farmer friend of mine. He's one of the biggest produce farmers in the county.

Hit 80 here today. Tee shirt weather.