iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 26, 2023 13:44:30 GMT
I follow a TikToker who's GE countertop ice maker was a moldy mess - so I don't think it is the brand, it is the mold. Once it gets started, its difficult to get rid of. She lives in Florida, so I don't know if climate makes a difference.
I have a cheap (relatively speaking, lol) one I got a couple years ago from TaoTronic's - they don't sell it anymore, but I see the exact same thing pop up on TikTok a lot. I run the clean cycle probably once a week, but I add bleach to it. Actually I use Clorox Cleanup, which is a bleach cleaner. I pop the hoses so the machine completley empties. I wipe down the interior with a very clean cloth*. I remove the filter and rinse that well and spray it with the Clorox Cleanup. I let it set for a few minutes to allow contact time for the bleach. Then I put the hoses back on and fill with water (the bleach cleaner is still in the machine. I press the clean cycle - which runs the water through the machine, but doesn't make ice. It runs for several minutes. Then I pop the hoses off again and drain. I wipe it out again with a clean rag and water. I make sure I pour clean water everywhere inside the machine to get any of the cleaner. I fill it, then drain it (no clean cycle). Then I fill it again and run a clean cycle to wash out any remaining bleach. I say I do this once a week - but sometimes it might go a little longer... but I am a stickler for keeping the machine sanitized.
I wasn't a stickler for decaling it. I was afraid to do that. Finally a few weeks ago, the machine would no longer work. I had shut it down because I had to go out of town for a week. It wouldn't work properly after that. It kept saying it was empty, when it was full of water. So I was finely able to get it to pull some water through - so I drained it. Put a full bottle of DeScale solution in and refilled it with one bottle of water, so the solution was strong. It finally pull that through and, oh yea - the gunk that came out. Not mold - but scale. I let it set for an hour with the descale solution inside the workings of the machine then ran it again until I felt like it was descaled good. I had to hold up the float so it would pull the water through, because it kept saying "empty" since the level was low. I drained it, filled it to wash it out, and drained it. Then filled again and ran the clean cycle to flush everything out, drained. It takes a few times to get the solution fully rinsed out. I am going to descale more often now. I use a descaling solution, not vinegar. I feel it works so much better.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 25, 2023 20:38:05 GMT
Jeans that are comfortable, shoes that are easy to slip on/off, a light shirt and a light sweater, so if it is cold I can put the light sweater on.
I am loving the easy slip on shoes that are out now. I have a pair of Kiziks and a pair of Sketcher's "Slip Ins" Both have the backs that do not crush down, so you can just slip them on without needing to pull out/up the backs. The Sketcher's slightly out perform the Kizic's, as far as comfort, but I like them both.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 24, 2023 18:08:42 GMT
My recipe is almost the same. People don't like carrot cake because it is often dry, the pineapple and oil are so moist. People can never believe there is pineapple in it. I should have added that mine is a Better Homes & Gardens recipe - so it is probably the basis for many carrot cake recipes! BH&G recipes are tried and true! I have a BH&G baking book from the late 80's. Every single thing I have made from it, is off the charts good. It's my baking bible! LOL
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 24, 2023 16:56:14 GMT
Yes, carrot cake MUST have pineapple in it; it helps retain moisture and makes it oh so sweet. Crushed pineapple - and even pineapple haters won't know it's in there. It is a must, along with oil. I have a super great recipe that has the crushed pineapple in it, oil, and you can add coconut, but I often leave that out. I add pecans in mine, which is also optional. 9 times out of 10, I make cupcakes instead of a cake. So much more shareable! I can pop a half dozen cupcakes in a container and gift them. Dollar Tree has really cheap cupcake carrier plastic containers. For $1.25 you can share cupcakes and not need the container back. I also only use parchment paper tulip liners for cupcakes. Easily found on Amazon and any baked item looks so professional! Use a piping bag to swirl on that yummy cream cheese frosting and they look professional and taste better than any bakery! Old Fashioned Carrot Cake2 Cups AP Flour 2 Cups Sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 3 cups finely shredded carrots* 1 8¼ ounce can of crushed pineapple, undrained 1 cup cooking oil 4 eggs, beaten Mix dry ingredients and mix. Add carrot, undrained pineapple* and liquid ingredients and beat with mixer about 30 seconds, until combined. You can bake in two 9.5 rounds, a 9x13 or it makes about 24 cupcakes, my preference is the cupcakes. * If you have pineapple haters - just use an immersion blender to more finely crush up the pineapple and juice into more of a pineapple sauce. Cream Cheese Frosting8 oz cream cheese - softened 1 stick butter (1/2 cup) - softened 2 teaspoons vanilla (I use Molina) 4 1/2 to 5 cups sifted powdered sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. I use this grater to finely grate my carrots, using the small hole grater. It is awesome for fresh grated cheese (soft cheese like cheddar I use the larger hole grater, hard cheese like Parm, I use the small hole). Great for hash browns too. Hands down these are the best type of graters! Rotary GraterI love these parchment tulip papers for cupcakes, brownies, and muffins! Tulip Papers The Newsprint style is super fun too! Tulip Papers, newsprintI like to pipe on the frosting - these Wilton tips are the best quality. I usually use the 1M tip. I buy the large disposable piping bags, but this kit comes with a few bags, I don't know if they are the big ones though. Wilton Cupcake piping kit You do not need one ounce of cake decorating skill to pipe cupcakes. Squeeze and swirl. Dollar Tree cupcake carriers You can get these individually in the Dollar Tree store if you don't want to order.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 22, 2023 13:16:46 GMT
Not for me, but do you clear your browser cache regularly?
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 21, 2023 15:32:03 GMT
Have you tried BarKeepers Friend? It works really well. I prefer the powder, and wet it with a scotchbrite pad to scrub. Sometimes you need to let it set a little bit on it too. It really takes of rust stains, if you get those.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 21, 2023 13:38:42 GMT
Here is a link to the Coast Starlight Diner car menu. They also have specials, so sometimes there is something different to eat on-board. All meals are included in your Sleeper class ticket. AMTRAK COAST STARLIGHT MENUIt's pretty decent food, much of it is "heat and eat" but still they do some prep on it. My steaks have always been excellent! Breakfast has always been good to. You get one alcoholic beverage with supper (they call it Dinner, but Dinner is at noon for me! ) It is a 3 course supper. It's not 4 Star Micheline - but its fun on the train. Generally, if you choose to eat in the Dining Car, you are seated at a 4 person table. If it is just one or two of you - you will most likely be seated with strangers - but I LOVE THAT! So fun to visit with someone new. If that really isn't your bag - you can have your meal delivered to your sleeper. There is a snack bar in the lower level of the Observation car... you can get microwaved foods there and chips, pop, etc. You can not use their microwave for your own food though.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 21, 2023 13:24:27 GMT
Also, keep this little tidbit handy, just in case the tooth fairy forgets to come! Sometimes the tooth fairy has a very busy night, and sometimes it bumps its wing and has to stop for the night! But don't worry, it will come tonight, because the tooth fairy wing can heal in a day! .... it is so easy to forget when your life is so busy, but by golly, don't forget the next night! LOL The tooth fairy also let her keep those teeth, LOL. 🤣 This reminds me of my son getting his wisdom teeth out when he was younger. He asked the dentist if he could keep them... The dentist said Sure, what are you goin to do with them... He and his buddies had an elaborate plan for a mock fight at school, ending with him spitting out a bunch of teeth... Oh lord! The dentist was just hooting over this.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 21, 2023 0:26:18 GMT
I find the sound and motion of a train to be hypnotic and I think I could sleep better than I do at home. I wake up at every stop. LOL But it is fun to look at the train stations and people getting on during the night. And the smokers getting off for a desperate smoke.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 21, 2023 0:25:23 GMT
We used to do AMTRAK once a year. With a bunch of kids. We did coach then, and it was a 12-14 hour trip. Coach is tolerable (I was younger then) and much more affordable for the amount of people we had. We noticed over the years how the service declined on the train. It has been a couple years since we last rode, and we did some sleeper trips towards the end, with just my DH and I. Sleeper class is 100% the only way I would travel Amtrak on any trip that is overnight. Coach is OK, and a thousand times more comfortable than a plane, but if you want to sleep - Sleeper class is the only way. It is more expansive, but your meals are included. Food quality has dropped, but it is still not terrible (at least not on the trains I have done). I have mostly done the California Zephyr through the Midwest and Colorado. Things to go into your trip knowing: Amtrak is almost NEVER on time - not on the cross country routes. They are at the mercy of freight train traffic. AMTRAK does not own the rail - the freight lines do. So when you are on UP track, UP gets the right away, and you wait. Sometimes you wait long enough that your crew "times out" ... so you wait longer for a new crew to show up. Weather can mess you up. If track gets damaged, you can get rerouted, or sometimes what they call a "bustitution" - where they load you up on a bus to go around the track that is out. .... This doesn't happen a lot, but it can. The employee's onboard can range from the most helpful and kind people to.... not so much... really not so much. Sometimes they are downright rude and surly. But generally they are friendly and helpful. Covid changed a lot. For a long time, during/after Covid, if you were Coach class, you could no longer buy and eat meals in the Dining car. This has reverted back to being allowed to make a meal reservation and eat in the Dining car on most routes, but double check. If you are Sleeper Class - you automatically have all your meals in the dining car. It's not the Orient Express. The trains are not new. They are clean, but sometimes a little worn looking. Sometimes people go into an AMTRAK trip thinking it is high class... it is not. Bathrooms are MUCH cleaner in Sleeper Class cars. There are just less people using them. Coach Class bathrooms can get a bit scary sometimes. A lot of trash and not much attention. I think the Coast Starlight would be a beautiful trip! Get your tickets early - the longer you wait, the more they cost. Sleepers sell out. We have always liked the Roomettes, which is the lowest cost sleeper. It is a narrow room with two seats that face each other. At night, your car attendant will make your beds up. The bottom seats become the lower berth. They drop a bed down from the top, for the top berth. There are Facebook groups for about every Amtrak Route. I am sure there is one for Coast Starlight. I am in the general Amtrak Train Travel group, that covers about all things AMTRAK. It can get savage sometimes! LOL Wow. But still a great deal of information, if you weed out the nutjobs who complain about everything. LOL Worth joining though, just to hear about peoples trips, etc. Lots of photos. Also, check out YouTube. Often people do a trip video and you can see more of the train and maybe what type of ticket you want to get. If you are looking at something that is more of a First Class experience, the Rocky Mountaineer has neat trips in Canada and one in the US. The US Route is Denver to Moab, I think. Stunning scenery. I have done Denver to Glenwood Springs and holy moly - it is beautiful! I think you disembark at night and stay in hotels on these trips though. They are not AMTRAK and they are $$$$ nice. Rocky Mountaineer in the US
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 17, 2023 20:12:26 GMT
Double box. Do not allow any wiggle room in either box. Stuff it completely full so nothing can shift at all. Be sure to pad between dishes - don't let any of them touch one another directly. Such great advice here! Wrap each item in bubble wrap. Place in a sturdy box, making sure everything is TIGHT. Then put that box in a padded box. That is the only way.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 14, 2023 19:21:31 GMT
Honestly, if I had been let go, and didn't leave on my own wishes - I'd say "peace out MF'ers", and bounce. My husband says I'm a bit to honest in my interactions sometimes though.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 14, 2023 17:58:33 GMT
Settings>Background App Refresh>all the apps that are refreshing and you may not know it. I have that completely turned off.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 14, 2023 15:38:15 GMT
But damn that new pink 15 is calling my name! I love the colors, but I have to have a good case on mine, and then it just kind of defeats the color of the phone. I tried a clear case, but it yellowed pretty fast. I have the Max Pro 12 - and it has always had a battery issue. My "Battery Health" is at 84% now - and has been at that for a long time. I feel like it was at that when it was almost brand new yet. But I can not get through the day without charging a few times. Mine was at 100% when I got up this morning at 6. It's 10:30 am, and it's down to 64%. I haven't used it a ton today. Did a little snapchatting, called DH to ask about fence, so it was a short call. A couple text with my kids and a couple pictures of a serial number, so I could have that on had. OK, so I didn't realize how many apps I had that were running in the background to refresh! I just turned off 10-15 of them. I swipe closed my apps several times a day. I generally never leave them open at all. But I for sure swipe out of everything 2 or 3 times a day. I have most of my notifications completely off. Only Text and Snapchat will light up my screen. Nothing else - not Facebook or Insta either. I think the battery life on the 12 is garbage. I have the newest update downloaded but not installed yet. Could it be any worse? LOL
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 14, 2023 15:25:07 GMT
"Better living through chemistry." Better for the manufacturers, that is. I'd be willing to bet the noodles in that Progresso would be the same if you open it in 10 years. How do you explain my homemade noodles. They don't get weird in soup, no matter how long they are in there. I usually roll them super thin, but I like the a little thicker sometimes too. They do plump up very slightly when I cook them, but they never get mushy or 'fat'. My noodle recipe is whole eggs, unbleached flour and a little salt. That is it. No other liquid or anything. I cook them in the broth, no separately. I wonder if it is because I mix/knead them well to develop the gluten? Nothing is better than homemade! But sometimes there just isn't time. I try to get some made ahead and keep in the freezer, but not always. I buy a brand of "Amish Klusky" noodles at the grocery store that are decent enough. They stay nice too. I haven't examined the bag for ingredients to see if there is any preservatives in it - but I am guessing there is something.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 12, 2023 20:49:31 GMT
WHen I use my homemade noodles, they stay just fine.
But if I use store bought pasta - poof - that stuff just gets fat! LOL
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 11, 2023 19:29:21 GMT
I drive a pickup, and it has a full size spare. But god help me if I ever have to change it! LOL
I can definitely change a tire, but when I do now, I have a big jack and air tools to get the lugs off.
But if I had to change my truck tire in the wild - ugh. You have to lower it down from underneath the bed of the pickup.
I had a blow-out on my husbands truck when hauling livestock. I was an hour from home, and he came to change it for me. He brought a cutting torch to cut the tire loose from underneath, because he knew it had been up there for so long, there was no way it was coming off easily.
I do carry a a jump pack that also has an air pump in it. So I can air up a tire, hopefully enough to get me somewhere to fix a tire. I don't travel too far off the ranch most of the time though!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 10, 2023 15:14:58 GMT
If you could only see how I struggle during harvest.
I pack my entire days food at 6 am. I have been known to have it all gone by 10 am.
I cut my sandwiches into quarters, thinking I will eat just one quarter, starting at 11 am. Usually I can hold out and not destroy the entire thing right away, but if I am waiting in line to dump my grain.... it's a struggle and it's usually all gone by the time I hit the empty scale. LOL
My husband, on the other hand will often come home at night and finish his lunchbox then. I usually put a small fun size candy bar in his lunch and it might be in there the entire week. Unless it is Peanut M&M's. He loves those. LOL
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 10, 2023 12:51:54 GMT
I love Sam's self check outs. I just leave everything in the cart and use the hand scanner. No picking up and loading into another cart. Do you use the app on your phone? You can scan as you add to your cart, then zoom through the lane especially for that. Love it! WalMart has Scan & Go now too, but you pay a membership. It's totally worth it. You get the ability to Scan & Go, a Paramount Plus subscription, free shipping from WM. com, free delivery (I don't qualify for that due to distance), and right now .20 cents off per gallon of gas from Exxon/Mobile Stations. For a while the cost was half price for the membership, not sure if that is still happening. But I love putting my grocery totes right in my basket, scanning as I put things in there, then just holding my phone up to the self checkout screen and going. Love it! I get asked "how did you do that" a lot! LOL And I have a digital receipt on my phone, that makes returns so easy.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 9, 2023 20:44:51 GMT
Do you find it hard to maintain an non-frost free freezer? Not at all, really. Modern freezer seal really well, so the frost is at a minimum. I also keep a piece of strong Gorilla tape on the door of my upright freezer. Years ago, I had something tumble loose and knock the door loose. That was a MESS. So now I just make sure that tape is pulled tight to secure the door. There might even be actual 'door lock/latch' type of things for the freezer. My chest freezer does have a key/lock. My upright does not. Plug in - I had my electrician install a special outlet for my freezers. Then I put that plug type on my deep freeze. You plug it in to the special receptacle, then twist it. It will not accidentally come out. And someone can't unplug the freezer to use the outlet for something else and forget to plug it back in. You would be surprised how many times I have heard that happening. Then you find a freezer full of rotted food!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 9, 2023 20:39:40 GMT
I have had such great luck with Bouqs. Fresh flowers are sent in a box. They are not in a vase, but they are 'arranged' so all you really need to do is plop them in a vase (or even a big jar!) I have both sent flowers and received them from Bouqs, and they far exceeded any florist ones I have sent, for the amount of money spent. I highly recommend them. Bouqs
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 9, 2023 15:12:19 GMT
almost all of them are frost free now. It does suck Really? That stinks! I haven't had any trouble getting it to be Non-Frost Free, but I get them from my local hardware store, and she orders in what I want. I have an upright in my garage that I love. I got it at Sears years ago. I can switch it between a full refrigerator to a full freezer with the flip of a switch. I bought it to use as a garage fridge, but it gets used as a freezer more. I am trying to winnow down to a single freezer in my basement so I can switch it back to a refrigerator. I think that one is a 'frost free' model, so I try to keep things out there that I use up quicker. I keep my beef in my chest one that I know is not frost free. We had to butcher two beeves in quick order a while back, so I had a LOT of beef!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 9, 2023 14:21:11 GMT
I'd be lost without my deep freeze! Just make sure it is NOT a "Frost Free" model. You do not want frost free on things you are storing for a longer term. They will freezer burn quite quickly. Frost free is great for your fridge freezer, but not for a deep freeze. Enjoy the freezer - I stock my secret stash of popsicles in mine! LOL
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 4, 2023 13:54:42 GMT
Wow! So desolate there isn't even a ranch house!
Doesn't even sound like they run cattle, just hunting? Which is huge!
My DH loves to watch "Ranch for Sale" videos on Youtube. The big Wyoming and Montana ranches. Oh boy. I can't even imagine. The management of our very tiny (in comparison) ranch is a full time job in itself. Whew!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 31, 2023 15:03:06 GMT
EVs are not going to be practical until people can have two batteries in the vehicle, one charging and one being used, that can be switched out. Two batteries would be HEAVY! Currently EV cars, even the lightest ones, weight more than many cars. A light electric car can weight 20% more than a traditional SUV. I also think having more batteries is not a solution at this time. The pollution and environmental harm from Lithium mining is something that needs to be addressed. It's not in our backyard, so it often isn't associated with EV, but it should be. Labor standards for those mining the lithium are weak, so it causes great harm to them also. Then what happens to these EV batteries after they no longer hold a charge? Recycle? Hopefully, but that isn't a given. I know technology will bring things along, but EV isn't the environmental savior at the moment. If the spare could be charged by the car itself, that would be the answer to the problem. It would require an alternator to charge the battery, but the alternator requires more energy than it can generate to charge the battery. Again - technology may solve some of these issues. Trains are evolving in how they charge themselves, so hopefully new knowledge will come with time. My current vehicle has over a 700 mile range. I just drove a little over 600 miles yesterday and I have just under 1/4 tank left in my truck. The EV equivalent with the high range battery would go 320 miles. If I had a load or was towing, that electric range drops significantly. If it is cold, and I do live in a cold climate - it goes to unusable range. I don't know how tractors and large trucks would work for farms. The need for a tractor to run 18 to 24 hours a day is normal. During busy seasons a 15 hour day is normal, if not a little short. We have had to power generators that had our tractor running for over 14 DAYS without ever powering down.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 30, 2023 16:38:10 GMT
I just recently sent an arrangement though the local (the town they were being sent) florist. I went on their page and did it directly.
The arrangement wasn't anything close to what the photo I clicked on was, but I was ok with it because it was of similar flowers and size.
I have a 'Celebrations Passport' that I got when I sent some Shari's Berries" a couple years ago. I just keep renewing it, because it has been a value for me. You get free shipping and some discounts with it. But besides the Shari's Berries, it has 1-800 Flowers, Gift Baskets .com, Simply Chocolate, Harry & David (not super crazy for their stuff) Chery's Cookies, and several others. I wish I had sent the flowers from 1-800 Flowers, with my Passport membership. I HIGHLY recommend Chery's Cookies. I can send a small box of them for around $12 after I apply coupons and free shipping. Fun just to say Hi or Thinking of You. I have sent bigger boxes of cookies, instead of flowers for funerals. I got a terrific response from the family. One instance, I knew the family was large and lots of younger kids, so I sent a big box of Chery's Cookies and two dozen chocolate dipped strawberries. They said it was just so refreshing to have something fun and edible. Shipping can take a few days though, so flowers are more 'instant'.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 24, 2023 1:16:22 GMT
I would love a $200 bill with the air running at that temp. We are super lucky to have that 'cheap power', living in a rural area. I am lucky enough to be on a non-electric coop line for our house. My electric bill for our irrigation is on rural electric coop (REC) and it is NOT cheap. Several thousand a month during the season and a flat 72/month for the rest of the year, with no power being used at all. Where we have our cattle barns runs $400 to $800 a month, due to the 3 phase power we need to run our silos. Fans run 24/7 during the summer. Plus a couple wells and a shop with a welder. So I more than make up for that cheap A/C!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 23, 2023 18:15:50 GMT
I have the thermostat set at 80 degrees and have made sure the filter has been changed, but it seems to run almost all afternoon most days. Wow.. I have mine set at 66º. I normally keep at 69º to 72º, depending on the outside conditions. If I don't set it that cool, the upstairs in our house is unbearable at night. Keeping the humidity out of the house is what is most important. If I had to set it warmer, I could survive. Luckily my electric bill won't be to shocking - but it might be $200.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 23, 2023 15:29:15 GMT
I would look at that situation as no different than not showing up for work, and the boss checking in.
I wouldn't call that micromanaging. I would call it Managing!
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Aug 23, 2023 15:18:07 GMT
88º at 10 am, with a 'feels like' temp of 101º. The humidity is thick. Feels like a warm wet blanket thrown over you when you step outside. High forecast at 99º this afternoon. I know it gets a lot hotter in other parts of the country, but this heat combined with the humidity is pretty deadly here.
We are trying to keep livestock alive. So far we haven't lost any. Cows are good in pastures with plenty of shade and water. Still need to keep a close eye on them, but we are lucky to have the pasture, water, and shade that we do have.
Fat cattle are in barns, which is way better than a dry lot, but still very concerned about them. They have backed way off their feed, which is a big concern. Constantly monitoring them. Have lots of fans going and there is a breeze, but it is very concerning right now. Winds are to increase this afternoon, which is good for them. Water, shade, and ventilation are so important and have to be watched.
I am watching DH! He is out in it all day and I am making sure he is hydrated and cools off once in a while. He tolerates it a lot better than I do, but it still whips him pretty good.
We had a few days of this earlier in the month. We lucked out with no death loss. The two counties to our south lost around 1000 head in one late afternoon. They call it a 'heat dome' .. it gets really hot and humid and the wind just stops. Cattle started dying pretty fast. They had fire departments out trying to cool cattle by watering the ground and blowing a mist, but still lost a lot of head.
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