Last rodeo of the season.

[Snowy Rivers]

Well now.

The late season is here and the nut plant is down to the last few weeks of operation for the 14/15 harvest.

With great weather right now we decided to get while the "Gettin is good"

We saddled up the rig this morning and ran down to get what will be our last load for the season.

Here is a piccy of the dumpster just after being sat on the trailer.

We got a full load and it filled every last container we have.

My gawd, we were looking at the tupperware in the cupboard to hold the last tidd bits.

All good now till next fall.

Was a lovely day with abundant sunshine, although the breeze was brisk.

Ahhhhh yesss.

Always feels good to have plenty of "nuts squirreled away"

 

[Old Spartan]

Looks like you are driving my truck

 

[boo boo]

Screw the nut shells I want that bare ground and that weather

 

[velvetfoot]

How's that trolley crane do-hickey coming along?

 

[johneh]

Screw the nut shells I want that bare ground and that weather[/quote]
X2

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Trolley parts are piled in the corner for now.

Had another plumbing issue (not big) and the decision was made to remodel the bathroom.

House is 22 YO now and stuff is wearing out.

Soooooooooooooooo, with the supply of shells all in now we put the trolley on hold.
This load we filled barrels and single stacked them in the slot.

The bathroom project is more important.

Faucets dripping and a tub back splash coming off, plus other issues.

We found a beautiful high end oak double vanity that's 8 feet long to replace the existing single unit.

Removing a huge shower (in pieces) and moving the large tub into that spot.

Once the tub is moved, then the vanity gets ripped out and the new one (new to us) goes in.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I am curious about something that you've never mentioned so I'll ask....

How much to you pay for the nut shells??

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Penny and a half per pound (1.5 cents)

Filling the dumpster costs about $35

The first time this season was $31 and was not a total fill
The second run was $38 and the thing was FULL to the brim
This last run was pretty near level full and was $35

The gates on their hopper are large, and it's a PITA to get the dumpster perfectly aligned under the gate I like to use (Where the best size shell pieces are) and it gets messy. The hopper is designed to load semi trailers and big dump trucks, so my small rig is a long way down from the gate.

If it's windy it can be nasty to load, hence the variations in load size.

So $104 for the season, and we will be good to finish this season and start and run until November when the plant is running again.

The dumpster will hold about 2700# when full.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Spartan

Can't beat a good Burb eh

We have had Burbs off and on for years, and recently acquired the one in the piccy.
1995 2500 4x4 454 powered.

Fellow spent a buttload of $$$ on it including a new set of BFG all terrains, then decides to get a newer one.

I paid $2100 for it, and its a nice rig.

All leather interior, Alpine stereo and 3 row seating.

Got some miles on it (205k) but runs sweet

Yanks the nut trailer around fine, and that job is the reason I got it.

We use it for other tasks, but generally it sits and we drive our 2011 Smart for two at 40 plus MPG

 

[SidecarFlip]

60 cents for 40 pounds, if it was closer, I'd bring the grain trailer out and load up, I could heat on the cheap too. That makes corn look expensive.

30 bucks a ton come on.............

 

[Old Spartan]

Spartan

Can't beat a good Burb eh

We have had Burbs off and on for years, and recently acquired the one in the piccy.
1995 2500 4x4 454 powered.

Fellow spent a buttload of $$$ on it including a new set of BFG all terrains, then decides to get a newer one.

I paid $2100 for it, and its a nice rig.

All leather interior, Alpine stereo and 3 row seating.

Got some miles on it (205k) but runs sweet

Yanks the nut trailer around fine, and that job is the reason I got it.

We use it for other tasks, but generally it sits and we drive our 2011 Smart for two at 40 plus MPG

I LOVE my beast. Bought it new in 1994 (about 25K back in the day) and it has everything GM offered. Put a crate 350 in it at 238,000 miles and it is now at 281,000 give or take a few hundred. Needs a "little" body work which is scheduled for spring. Oil change every 3000, other train fluids every 30 - 35000 and it still runs like the day I bought (not kidding).

Its main use now is hauling big stuff for the lady's antique store, towing toys (and this year pellets). We also use it when we need to be in a car for more than a few hours because the comfort is worth a few extra bucks in gas.

The putter car is too small for these old bones except around town.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Akwats considered burbs 'ghetto blasters' but then I went and bought a Dewillie. Oh well. I like a lugs your arse cae.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Sidecar

The shells are just bio waste and must be disposed of.
The local paper mill buys a lot of it and burns it for their steam plant

Some goes to landscapers for flower beds

There are a few die hard pellet stove freaks that burn it as well.

There are many plants within 20 miles of here, so lots of it available.

They price it cheap enough to make it go away, as they can't just pile it up.

The other day I opened a barrel that had been sitting in the shop for 5 years and started using it to rotate the stock.

5 years in the out building with damp weather and no heat, and the stuff is fine.

The nut meat pieces in the mix tend to take on a more stale odor, but nothing bad.

I have eight 55 gallon drums of old stock, and its time to use it up.

So from now through the shoulders we will burn this stuff off.

Hard to beat the price, even with the work required to handle it.

I had the chance to get 2 of those 3 yard dumpsters, but decided against it as they are not RODENT tight and the little critters get in and poop as they munch.

Best mouse trap is a 5 gallon pail with a scoop of shells in the bottom left open.

Guaranteed to fetch up a mouse or two when left in the basement.

Snowy

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Spartan

WE sure love our Smart for two. It's been a real life saver since retiring. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ as in cheap to run.

We were spending about $700 a month on fuel to feed an old 94 Astro AWD
That sucked.
Now we have the Smart at $200 mo pmnt, plus insurance, plus fuel and the total is under $400 a month

More $$$ for nut shells

Just wish I could figure a way to use shells to cool the house in the summer.

 

[velvetfoot]

I drove a friend's Smart electric the other week. Very nice. He says the cold weather is kicking its butt though.

 

[SidecarFlip]

At one time in the not so distant past, wood scraps were considered bio-waste too. That went from waste to added value.

I could never drive a Smart car, way too small, a coffin on wheels. If I want to drive something that small, will be a motorcycle. Much more manuverable and a better power to weight ratio.

 

[Old Spartan]

When we replaced the Blazer we looked at several autos in various sizes including the Smart Car. Way too small for our comfort, mentally and physically although it was nice enough for what it is.

I still view an auto as more than just a way to get from A to B. A throwback I suppose.

Our choice in 2009 was a Sonata, the first foreign car we ever owned. It is reasonably efficient, very dependable, and after 5 years I can say it is of very good quality. We use it for short about town chores and as a daily rider to the antique store.

As for "Sunday" drives or trips to the coast I find the extra few dollars the beast drinks to be well worth the cost given the additional creature comforts. A trip to the cost chews up 600 miles total which amounts to a c note extra. A "Sunday" ride might be 150 miles or about 15 additional dollars. Fair trades in my mind because driving the beast is like sitting in my living room chair.

It is all a trade off of course -- Dollars for something.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I drove a friend's Smart electric the other week. Very nice. He says the cold weather is kicking its butt though.

The heater probably depletes most of the juice to power the drive motor. I think, if I had the waller, a Tesla would be my choice. I don't (have the wallet).