Sunday, February 11, 2018

The Ranch Hand Returns

The fun we had on the ranch, playing cowboys and bad guys using the saddle house as a jail, was always interspersed with LOTS of hard work.  Not only did we do the easy stuff like gathering eggs and raking up 10 acres of trash dropped from the eucalyptus trees, but we were on fence detail.

Being a ranch hand (child labor actually) we put up and took down miles and miles of fence.  One year I even took out five miles of barbed wire fence by myself.  Just me and my trusty little old 1940-something Ford tractor with a hydraulic lift.  I'm no stranger to post hold digging either.

When it came time to put one in the ground here in Arizona, I just grabbed my shovel and got to it.  You see my driveway is hidden behind the garage.  I can't see or hear anyone coming up to the house, so I found a system on-line that notifies me of movement with any of 32 original sounds.  Woohoo!!

Trouble is, it can't be facing the sun, which meant I had to plant a post and install it on the opposite side of the driveway.  No problem for the Ranch Hand who appeared in place of the blond who can't cook.

The hole is dug, but it took me some time.  Seems all that fill dirt hauled in is full of really big rocks, which didn't play well with a shovel.  By the end, I was down on my hands and knees digging them out.  I placed the post and like Fence Post 101 in days of yore, I dumped in one big bag of Quickrete.
A big bucket of water later, along with my trusty level from the RV and the post is set.  It's really not crooked like in the pictures.  I let it set up all day before filling in the rest of the hole.  DONE!!  Just don't push on it too hard because honestly, I'm not sure my fence post skills are up to par.
While working on that, this cute little roadrunner showed up to flip his tail at me.  I just love to watch these guys!!
Waiting for fence post concrete to dry is like watching paint dry, so I got to work hanging my quilt rack.  The ranch hand is better at post hold digging than hanging stuff on sheetrock walls.  After ten trips up and down the ladder and six tries, I finally got it up, except OH NO!  The rod is still laying on the floor and can't be put in place because the wall is too close.

RATS!!  I took it down ... that was a feat all in itself ... put the rod in position and after three more tries, finally got it up.  Not bad!!!  
With the post finally set and covered, I started work on installation of the gizzy.  You have to "pair" up the sensor with the main unit, which didn't really seem to work right.  I think I finally got it since  I could hear it beep in the other room when I waved my arms around in the kitchen.  Outside, with my trusty drill, I installed everything on the post.
Now comes the moment of truth!!  Back inside, I heard it beep twice.  I think it was picking up the movement of trees in the wind.  Pretty cool, right?  But alas, it beeped at everything.  I moved the sensor a tad and haven't heard a peep since.  Is it still working?  I've no clue.  It's takes two to tango and two to see if the sensor is seeing anything.  I am only one.  

The ranch hand loaded up on advil last night and slept like a log!  Surprisingly, I'm not even sore ...... yet.  




18 comments:

  1. Nice to see the ranch hand doing what she does best. That sensor will come in handy once you get it tweaked. Good job with the post too.

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    1. Well George I'm not sure about doing it the BEST ..... LOL

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  2. That is one gorgeous quilt. Did you make that one?


    Please be careful on the road.

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    1. Rex, that is a woven Navajo Rug. I wish I made quilts that beautiful. I'll hang some quilts later, as I didn't bring any of them with me.

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  3. You may only be one but you are doing awesome things on your ranch by yourself! I applaud you. Gizzy? Hmm, now I know but was anxious to see what the heck that was!

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  4. Doing those projects by yourself really gives you a sense of accomplishment. Tie a Helium Balloon on Cooper's collar and throw his ball so he'll run past the sensor. One person, four paws, that should work. LOL
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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    1. Hahaha that's a great idea Rick, and I bet it would work just fine!!

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  5. Waving your arms around in the kitchen like a mad woman how come we don't have a video of that WOW
    well anyways
    One is good three is better
    Your monitor should handle up to at least 4 or more units
    I would put one by the front door each with a different chime
    One by the garage door
    And one by the porch
    That will cover three entrances and one driveway for your house
    Another good feature are LED Solar Motion detected flood lights (no electricity required)(and that they're not expensive) if you put one on the garage at the peak shining down. one in your patio. and one at your front door.
    I have three outside my house. once set up you forget them. you never have to touch them after that. They are a total standalone unit. The fun part is trying to play burglar. You'll get foiled every time
    Ask Mr,D the best placement to place them
    Sidenote just save the sales receipt in case you have an issue


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    1. Excellent idea Ed. I do have one of those on the corner of the garage. I could definitely use a couple more.

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  6. Do you have a burner phone? (Extra phone where you pay just for time used...we have one for Skruffy in her role as service dog) If so, just call yourself on burner phone, put burner phone by the squawk box, and go outside and break the beam.

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    1. Where there's a will, there's a way, but I do not have a burner phone. I might just try leaving the window open ... if I can GET it open. If I turn up the volume, I would probably hear it.

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  7. I wonder how high you set the sensor? Do you want it to "see" coyotes or not?

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    1. I'm pretty sure it's low enough to see a few critters, Linda. Perfect for photography!!

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  8. It sounds like the "ranch hand" really knows what she is doing and how to get things done.
    I will admit I am getting more and more jealous of all the roadrunner pictures people are posting as we have yet to see one this year...:)

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    1. Well RATS!! (You might just see those too.)
      I haven't really seen as many roadrunners this year as in the past. In the summer, there are lots running around my back yard. So far only two have graced me with their presence.

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  9. You can leave your cell phone in the house on record, and go out and trip the sensor. Then check your cell phone recording.

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    1. Oh John ... you are SO smart!!! Yes I CAN do that!! And I will first thing this morning.

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