The Quack Shack

[Canadian Wind]

You are talking to the master of procrastination!
Just ask my ducks about the - again - one foot deep bedding in their house… (Well, they actually like it until it starts to produce ammonia in spring)
You just need to kick your ass yourself sometimes, as hard as it may seem. What helped me is a to-do list where i break up every job in as many tasksk as possible. Example: I want to fix an OSB board to my garage wall, so i can hang up my tools. I broke this up into 12 little tasks:

1. measure the board and mark the cutting line
2. cut the board
3. paint the board
4. glue Styrofoam to the non painted side
5. measure and mark nine screw holes
6. drill screw holes
7. temporary attach the board to the wall and mark the holes on the wall
8. remove board from wall
9. drill holes into the wall
10. insert wall plugs
11. re-attach board to wall with holes lining up to the plugs
12. screw the board to the wall

I draw motivation out of checking off every item on the list. Currently i am at #7. - But i still have to pay the vehicle taxes for last year. And April 15th (tax-day!) is approaching so fast - again!

You make it sound so simple. Now, see, I would have to make a list to make myself make a list!

 

[Pyxis]

Still recovering from my stupid back injury over here. Physical therapy office finally called me back and left a message, but then when I called today, the person who answered didn't know what was going on and said he had to have the receptionist at a different office call me back - they haven't called back.

On top of it all, the neighbors apparently have two hogs for slaughtering that they are not keeping contained. One of them has been over three times at least now damaging my property. I hadn't been able to check it out - my dad has been doing the feeding and watering for me while I heal but he doesn't really know what he's looking at to tell about damage.

Yesterday I finally got out there to check on things. The pig broke into all of my runs and damaged fencing on all of them. It also ripped the doors off the hinges on both of my chicken coops to get to the feed inside. And tore the hardware cloth off the bottom and off the doors trying to get inside.

This of course released all my chickens, of which there are about 20 missing. Probably taken by hungry winter predators while they were loose and unprotected.

Oh, and it did its level best to get into the emu pasture too. Messed up about $400 worth of chain link panels, including bending the door and pulling up the chain link on the bottom trying to get under. Now luckily the fence held up and it didn't let my emus loose, but the fencing is messed up now.

I sent a message to my neighbors - who already knew about the problem because my dad had talked to them the first time this happened - and outlined all that I said above, and basically said I need them to confirm they have the pig contained and it won't happen again. Not asking for damages because they've done nice things for me in the past like catch the emus when they got loose and plow my bird yard, but I NEED to know the pig isn't going to come back over and do this again.

They saw the message over twelve hours ago. No reply.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

You are talking to the master of procrastination!
Just ask my ducks about the - again - one foot deep bedding in their house… (Well, they actually like it until it starts to produce ammonia in spring)
You just need to kick your ass yourself sometimes, as hard as it may seem. What helped me is a to-do list where i break up every job in as many tasksk as possible. Example: I want to fix an OSB board to my garage wall, so i can hang up my tools. I broke this up into 12 little tasks:

1. measure the board and mark the cutting line
2. cut the board
3. paint the board
4. glue Styrofoam to the non painted side
5. measure and mark nine screw holes
6. drill screw holes
7. temporary attach the board to the wall and mark the holes on the wall
8. remove board from wall
9. drill holes into the wall
10. insert wall plugs
11. re-attach board to wall with holes lining up to the plugs
12. screw the board to the wall

I draw motivation out of checking off every item on the list. Currently i am at #7. - But i still have to pay the vehicle taxes for last year. And April 15th (tax-day!) is approaching so fast - again!

Type a personality. Write down for the satisfaction of marking it off.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You make it sound so simple. Now, see, I would have to make a list to make myself make a list!

I started that way:

1. Find a pencil
2. Find a piece of paper
3. Find a free spot on an even surface
4. Write a not that you must write a to-do list
5. Pin that note on the mirror in the bathroom

This way you will see that annoying note first thing every quacking morning!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Type a personality. Write down for the satisfaction of marking it off.

I even add things that i have finished without being on the list to the list as done!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Still recovering from my stupid back injury over here. Physical therapy office finally called me back and left a message, but then when I called today, the person who answered didn't know what was going on and said he had to have the receptionist at a different office call me back - they haven't called back.

On top of it all, the neighbors apparently have two hogs for slaughtering that they are not keeping contained. One of them has been over three times at least now damaging my property. I hadn't been able to check it out - my dad has been doing the feeding and watering for me while I heal but he doesn't really know what he's looking at to tell about damage.

Yesterday I finally got out there to check on things. The pig broke into all of my runs and damaged fencing on all of them. It also ripped the doors off the hinges on both of my chicken coops to get to the feed inside. And tore the hardware cloth off the bottom and off the doors trying to get inside.

This of course released all my chickens, of which there are about 20 missing. Probably taken by hungry winter predators while they were loose and unprotected.

Oh, and it did its level best to get into the emu pasture too. Messed up about $400 worth of chain link panels, including bending the door and pulling up the chain link on the bottom trying to get under. Now luckily the fence held up and it didn't let my emus loose, but the fencing is messed up now.

I sent a message to my neighbors - who already knew about the problem because my dad had talked to them the first time this happened - and outlined all that I said above, and basically said I need them to confirm they have the pig contained and it won't happen again. Not asking for damages because they've done nice things for me in the past like catch the emus when they got loose and plow my bird yard, but I NEED to know the pig isn't going to come back over and do this again.

They saw the message over twelve hours ago. No reply.

That pig sounds like way more than just a nuisance! - I would not want to be between that one and the feed stash during twilight without being armed.
And it is okay not to ask for damages in order to not sour the relationship with an otherwise nice neighbor about "such a swine" - but they could lend you a hand for the repairs or at least offer you a "Schnitzel" when they're done with the slaughtering…
But: What the heck happened to you?!! - Did i miss something? How did you injure your back? You only have one!

 

[Pyxis]

That pig sounds like way more than just a nuisance! - I would not want to be between that one and the feed stash during twilight without being armed.
And it is okay not to ask for damages in order to not sour the relationship with an otherwise nice neighbor about "such a swine" - but they could lend you a hand for the repairs or at least offer you a "Schnitzel" when they're done with the slaughtering…
But: What the heck happened to you?!! - Did i miss something? How did you injure your back? You only have one!

It just seized up out of nowhere. Did this a few years ago too in the middle of the night and I thought I might actually be dying or have appendicitis or something so I went to the ER and they did a ton of tests including a CAT Scan and came up with nada.

So, just a really aggressive muscle spasm out of nowhere that locks up my whole lower back for three weeks. Last time they didn't even offer physical therapy, at least this time they have.

Oh, and she still hasn't replied. Is making posts on Facebook just fine but won't acknowledge my message.

Oh well. If the pig comes over again, it's gonna be bacon sooner than they planned.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

It just seized up out of nowhere. Did this a few years ago too in the middle of the night and I thought I might actually be dying or have appendicitis or something so I went to the ER and they did a ton of tests including a CAT Scan and came up with nada.

So, just a really aggressive muscle spasm out of nowhere that locks up my whole lower back for three weeks. Last time they didn't even offer physical therapy, at least this time they have.

Oh, and she still hasn't replied. Is making posts on Facebook just fine but won't acknowledge my message.

Oh well. If the pig comes over again, it's gonna be bacon sooner than they planned.

I guess I am getting petty, but if they don't even acknowledge the damage, I would send a bill. The mannual labour alone for repairs would be over $700 aus, so over $1000us. Okay if an animal gets out by accident once and reeks havoc its fine if the owners are truely apoligetic about it and do everything to prevent it happening again, but if it gets out, they know and don't stop it and just let it run wild, it's unlikely it just goes to your place (if you have other neighbours around), its probably raided the whole neighbourhood. Maybe follow up with pictures if you haven't sent any yet?

 

[Pyxis]

I guess I am getting petty, but if they don't even acknowledge the damage, I would send a bill. The mannual labour alone for repairs would be over $700 aus, so over $1000us. Okay if an animal gets out by accident once and reeks havoc its fine if the owners are truely apoligetic about it and do everything to prevent it happening again, but if it gets out, they know and don't stop it and just let it run wild, it's unlikely it just goes to your place (if you have other neighbours around), its probably raided the whole neighbourhood. Maybe follow up with pictures if you haven't sent any yet?

I didn't send pictures, but I should grab some before I start repairs. That way I have them if I decide I want to make them pay.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

I didn't send pictures, but I should grab some before I start repairs. That way I have them if I decide I want to make them pay.

Yeah, they may just not be aware of how much damage it actually is. Like some people just can't invision things from words but photos make it real for them