Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickwhispers]

Silly, I heard a similar sound about 6 am. Got up checked the house.Nothing. It was kind of creepy. I am going to think it was probably a tree down by the creek or across the road here.

Ladyr, I hope your pump and pipes are OK.

While no time is good, this is especially not the time of year to be without water and have to fix a pump and pipes!

Fuzzy whatever keeps you warm. Back in the day (read 1977-1978) I had a long rabbit fur coat. It was starting to show it's wear, but it's was soooo warm. Now my go to warm chore coat is a worn out wool coat. The chicks don't care what I look like.

Good Luck RaZ!

 

[Living the Simple Life]

Morning all!

I have been keeping up on reading but haven't taken the time to post. Have had a good winter so far, no frostbite except for a bit on the tip of our guinea rooster's comb. Our four ISA Brown hens have been laying machines all winter. They didn't lay for a couple days during the previous deep freeze, but then doubled up for a couple of days after. We also got a tiny egg the other day...not sure if one of the guinea hens are going to start laying again or if it was just a fart egg - seemed a little dark for the guineas.

DH landed a full-time job rather unexpectedly. He had been casually looking for opportunties to get back in the workforce (stay at home dad for the last 11-1/2 years working part time on and off during that time). He saw a random post by a friend late one Tuesday night about an opportunity at the local township office, was there when they opened in the morning, called next day for an interview, called back for second interview, offered job and started the next day. Major adjustment family-wise but he is really enjoying it....and it doesn't hurt to have someone at the township office on your side

We have been dealing with a sick cat :-( He kept me up last Friday yeowling all night and he was in the water dish constantly. He is one of the two cats we inherited and is not snuggly at all. I finally got a hold of him as I was concerned about a possible bladder blockage. As I was examining him, I noticed that he was very warm. I had to work in the morning so DH and the kids bundled him off to the vet. Sure enough he was running a fever and lo and behold he had an abcessed tooth - poor guy! No symptoms until that night but boy he must have been in pain. Vet lifted the tooth out, antibiotics, a couple days of laying low and he seems to be perking back up. I have been treating him with some canned food and tuna because it makes me hurt to think about him trying to crunch his regular food.

As much as I enjoy winter (I know, I know) because I am allergic to the sun (yes, bizarre) and can't deal with heat at all, I am longing for my garden and fresh vegetables and the feel of sun warmed earth in my hands. Shoveling snow truly doesn't give me the same feeling of connectedness with Mother Earth that working in the garden does. At this point, I would be happy with it thawing enough for me to just get the garland off the porch railing...

Have a great day all! We are forecast for 1" today and 2-3" tomorrow/Sunday....but I am sure enjoying seeing the sunshine out there right now!!

 

[uchytil]

They wouldn't have any milking equipment would they?

I' haven't left yet to talk to him but I'll get an idea after...the loud bang you heard? Maybe it was the back window of my Forester blowing out into the driveway, yep, that's what I get to deal with this morning with glass in the snow! Oh well, life goes on. As soon as I tape plastic over the rear hatch I'll set out.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I have been wondering if dribbling the water would prevent freeze in underground pipes?
It does for above ground. I have to for my trailer. I was dripping but with the extremes i now have to dribble. Will surely fall over for that bill too!!!! Mine have froze several times as well, last one being all the way down in the pit.... took 2 days of dh and i working non stop.

 

[chickwhispers]

@uchytil That's awful! I hope your insurance covers that!

@fuzzybutt love Yes if you keep your faucet dripping enough it will prevent your lines from freezing below as well. The underground temp is going to be warmer than the above ground temp. And should be above 32o unless of course the frostline is so deep, but then with water dripping through that should keep it open. Years ago when we had it so cold that the frost line went below the waterlines depth the town asked everyone to keep their water dripping/running the thickness of a pencil lead.

 

[Amy PT]

Brennigan, what a cutie! Does she seem to be okay on her own?

Silly, waking up to that would have me on edge. I hope you find the source, far, far away from your house.

Uchytil, sorry about the window.

Lady, your video is a good representation of this winter. Will you be doing 3 more for an every season suite?

I think I'm taking my little guy to see the butterflies at the Meijer Gardens this afternoon. It's 80 degrees inside, and plants everywhere. I might move in!

 

[Amy PT]

Simple Life, that's a short time to make a huge family change. Hope the transition is going well for all of you.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Crisis averted. It doesn't pay to have two people working on the same problem separately. What I told you was hearsay spoken to me by my husband who was "handling" the issue. He went down there this morning to thaw the frozen pipes and came upstairs, after fiddling with everything down there, concerned that the pressure tank registered 0 and we stopped getting any water upstairs at all, not even a gurgle. He left for work and that's when I ran down there to turn off the pump, fearing it would burn out if there was ice in the line before the tank. After I dealt with getting the kids on the bus (after a two hour delay) I went back down to see what I could do. The pressure tank looked fine, registered 100+ psi. I turned off the valve from the well, drained the tank. Lots of water in it. Looked good. Turned on the pump, got a good click from the switch, opened the valve, got fresh water. Looked alright. Relieved. Went upstairs and got nothing still. Okay, yeah, well, I started checking over the valves and hubby forgot to open the main valve to the upstairs, didn't he? No wonder! Heheheh. I still love him. He said, when I called him with the good news, that he thought the needle being past 100 psi meant 0psi. Yep, you just keep to your programming job, let me do the plumbing

But yes, leaving the tap dripping would have likely circumvented the issue this morning. But we're still learning how this house behaves in the winter. Our last well system never froze and neither have any of our other houses' pipes over the years. Still learning.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Lady, your video is a good representation of this winter. Will you be doing 3 more for an every season suite?

Only if they warrant such a response. This winter has, indeed.

 

[taprock]

I also was startled by a noise last night. I wasn't asleep, but in bed reading. I got up and checked all the doors. However, after seeing it was down to -32 last night I'm sure it was just the house protesting.

Our outdoor spicot froze earlier and it was above ground. Where I work in Mackinaw we have been under a mandatory run water order for 6+ weeks. They have had lines break in about 6 places in town. We had the water on about a pencil lead stream. This week the village guy came in and corrected us that it needs to be a full stream all the time.

My injured girl is surprising me and improving daily. She is standing and trying to walk. Depending on how she is, she may be going to a couple story times with me next week.

My seed order arrived and I so want to start some seeds, but I'm thinking it is just way too early yet, same with all the adorable chicks every one has.

At least the sun is out now and it's above zero out.