Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

The list gets long this time of year. Today the weather is perfect. The grasses have grown a lot in the last two weeks. It makes mowing a priority when I am trying to cultivate the finer grasses. I am headed to the scrap yard this weekend. The old farm junk is worth an unbelievable amount these days. So I am going to redeem the junk for cash using my new equipment trailer. The llamas are all happy after I told them about getting sheared in a couple of weeks. They are hot these days and don't like to leave the barn. They need haircuts bad! I bought the first major component for the solar domestic system. I am still designing the rest. In the process of finding components (a lot more available than there used to be) I found an opportunity to be an exclusive distributor in the US for a nice combination controller made in China. I will be persuing that opportunity if the unit works right for me. Fuel prices being so high is definately creating opportunities. I may have a donor...

Sometimes it is hard to remember how nice of an area I live in. My commute is generally stress free and a joy in experiencing nature. This morning I took this snapshot from the truck window. Can you see the fawn nursing?

Things have been a blur lately. I had a flight lesson the other night. I am gaining confidence. I remeber some of the things that I struggled with before I am now comfortable and confident. I have a ways to go still for sure. The big thing was though, I called a missed approach (go around) because I was too high and didn't feel comfortbale with the rate of decent. I gave it the gas and went through the process of a go-around and the engine skipped a few beats on the climb-out! I let my instructor have the plane and to be safe we did a 300 degree turn and landed downwind. That is the second time the plane has hiccupped on me during climb out at low altitude. We agreed this time it was a bit different than the loss of power we had last time with a scored cylinder. This seemed electrical. The plane is being looked at. My instructor says I have bad luck with the plane. We had an extended debrief and talked about options. We both agreed that the golf course was the best place to go ...

I decided not to buy the plane. Maybe next time. It was a good exercise visualizing myself as a aircraft owner. I have decided not to buy anything else that uses gas for a while. I have a lesson Thursday night. Instead, I am getting the solar hot water system built and installed. The electric car is still in process. I will be mowing my main hay field this week (17 acres) for the first time this year. So far this year I have mowed about 7 acres with the big mower. I have a lot more to do. I sold my truck camper and I am trying to sell a bunch of other stuff too. The chicks are growing. They are fun.

I am thinking about buying this plane. They hold their value well and it would really help me get my license faster. The things holding me back are I had a boat before and know how these things can own you back when you think you own them. Also, there is some expense. Is it something I need? It is a great deal.

This time of year is always overwhelming. There is so much to do. I hope to get back in the air soon. It has been a while. I got a line on a nice C-150 airplane. I am tempted to buy it. I am getting in the groove with new routines and making sure I don't slip into depression. I haven't been depressed and I don't have a history of it, but I want to make sure. Life changes can be pretty big. I still can't get DSL at the house. I contacted the phone company engineering manager for the area and bitched at him for a while.

I have been neglecting my blog. I apoligize. Spring is always a busy time of year and I have not been writing "blog" on my 3x5 index card to-do-lists. The chicks are bigger. I am going to put a few in the freezer as soon as I find out which ones are roosters. The llamas are well. I went to an auction this past weekend. It was a bit of extravaganze to spend the time but it was worth it. It was one of those poorer-than-dirt farmer folks who croaked and they were liquidating. There was quite a collection of stuff. The deceased was characterized as "independent". Interesting enough, the farm was about 1/4 mile away from the birthplace of John D. Rockefeller. Quite a contrast. I bought a few odds and ends and a running rear for a hay wagon. I have been looking for years. I will be picking it up tonight.