a farm that makes sense out here...

New business venture up the road from me.  Couldn't help but notice their fence isn't bunny proof.  I wonder if that is going to be a problem.  63,78,29,0,W

YouTube Millions!

So just about a month ago I decided to monetize my 10 year old YouTube channel.  Although it means people have to put up with ads, it doesn't cost them a dime to watch the videos.  As you can see from the top photo, I am not exactly getting rich. (I earn about one dollar per 1,000 views.)  As you see from the second photo - the most viewed user on YouTube is making an absolute killing.  After doing extensive research, I found the secret is not to count on the money pouring in...but to just concentrate on regularly uploading quality content that people will find interesting.  "If you film it, they will watch?"  I think I have plenty of good ideas for weekly "friday night films" that will fill up the year and provide some new Field Lab entertainment for people that follow my blog, and the end goal is to ultimately garner enough new interest in my project here that it may eventually lead to some modest income way down the road.  This is not about being an "attention whore"...I have already tried that and I didn't find it very satisfying (over the years I have turned down at least 10 reality TV shows and a lot of money).  I prefer being in total control of all the content released from TFL.  I enjoy living "outside the box" and after over 9 years of blogging, I have refined my ability to report on my daily doings and bumping up my YouTube game is a natural progression.  Hopefully this will provide a different perspective and some additional insight into the Field Lab world that people will enjoy. 58,67,27,0,B      

keeping an eye on things...

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Power Post Driver

Ben finally got his back scratcher installed today.  Only took a couple of minutes to drive a 2 1/2" pipe three feet into the ground.  Thanks to Joe and Julie Stovell (Ben's feed supplier) and their daughter Jaelyn Blackwell for coming out to visit today and get the job done easily with the amazing power post driver.
Now I just have to teach Ben how to use it...  49,58,29,0,B

a friday night film

Rabbits having dinner.  Over the years, my desert cottontail population has grown to about 50 individuals.  They know they have plenty to eat and drink here and are relatively safe from predators.  Although they are fairly tame, they aren't quite up for hug...yet.  They eat Ben's leftover alfalfa and range cubes as well as a nightly serving of rabbit chow and a couple of carrots.  This meal was served on a luncheon plate from my mothers set of Haviland china that I inherited.  Limoges Chrysanthemum pattern - Schleiger #86.  News Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://incompetech.com/  "By The Light of The Silvery Moon"  used by permission from the YouTube Audio Library.  42,52,33,0,W

steady as she goes...

57,65,32,0,B

line holders...

So the tricky contest was all about line holders for my paramotor.  When the wing is laid out behind a paramotor trike,  the lines need to run up by the cage in order to keep them from getting run over by the back wheels.  So now you know..."the rest of the story".  Looks like the winds will finally calm down enough by next week so I can try some taxiing with the rig and the wing.  54,62,43,0,W

nine times

Another load and another stuck goat (in the exact spot he got stuck once before).  Now I am systematically wiring off the sections he keeps getting stuck in.  Good news is, with this load of hay I have plenty of extra baling wire. (Funny thing is...every time I find him stuck, I forget to turn off the hot wire first and end up getting shocked.  Maybe we will both learn someday.)

And the winner is...?  THORNWALKER of course - although he wasn't entirely correct.  These are line holders for all the lines - not just the A lines.  But he got bonus points for recognizing that the pieces will have to be opened up into a U shape.  Photo of the installation coming soon... 73,83,56,0,W

CONTEST!

First person to correctly guess what this is all about gets a "Ben in the fog" postcard.  Good luck - this one is really tricky.  68,79,33,0,W

Inspired by Facebook...

Proverbs 3:34  The wise shall inherit glory:  but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

too windy...

Too windy today to get much of anything accomplished.  High sustained winds at 47 mph with a max gust of 58 mph.  Also makes for a bad hair day... 56,71,54, .01",G(usty)

a friday night film

 Visit to GOAT TOWN - located on Stolt Packsaddle Mountain Ranch. That is Packsaddle Mountain in the background. The owner just started this goat farm a couple of months ago and lost a few while trying to get things figured out. I recently stumbled on the opportunity to be a ranch manager of sorts. It has been 2 years since I've seen the owner and I just happened to pass by when he was going in the gate a few weeks ago. For now, my job is to feed and check them daily and truck in feed twice a month - and help stabilize a healthy fertile herd that is self sustaining.   Brownie has gotten his head stuck in the fence 7 times now - kids will be kids.  News Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://incompetech.com/  62,75,36,0,W

rotten wires

Been having some internet issues over the past week...keep losing my connection.  Was beginning to think that maybe my modem was overheating with my computer, weather station, and weather cam plugged into it.  Today it got really bad and my phone had a lot of static...which gave me a clue.  Checked my wire connection outside and sure enough it was in bad shape.  Leaving it exposed to the elements for so long really took a toll.  Had to peel it all back and reconnect some fresh wire - problem solved.  I think I will put a little connector box on my next shopping list.  Chupa was right there to make sure I did it right.  60,72,29,0,W

42 bales

It was a lot easier getting them on the trailer than it was getting them off.  56,64,33,0,B

new silver day

Hot off the presses from the US Mint.

49,59,40,0,B

battery day

Just got my new (used) AGM batteries from local Ron Mohr of Green Desert Living.  These were in service for 2 years by an unknown government agency as battery backup.  Brand new, they run about $450 each not including shipping.  Ron is selling them for 90 bucks a pop.  Time for a new TFL test.  60,71,34,0,B

Follow the path - GPS for the soul.

Psalm 16Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.  2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;  3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.  4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.  5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.  6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.  7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.  8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

oil and air...

Time for a little gennie service...60,65,57,0,B

a friday night film

 First flight with my paramotor on April 6, 2014 - shot from the ground.  Pretty awkward taking off and landing for the first time with 75 pounds on your back.  The goal is to get back in the air and some flight time under my belt by the third anniversary of this flight.  News Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

a clean cup...

Ben's water bowl got a bath.  He just got it down to the half way mark today...then I siphoned off enough for a tip over and a scrub down.  Cheers.  71,80,39,0,B

the unselfish selfie (stick)

Seems GoPro is going after some accessories makers...including this mom and pop operation.  For that very reason alone, I just bought a "selfie stick" from GoScope for my GoPro Hero 3+.  75,85,47,0,B

built for speed...

Got the new laptop up to speed.  Installing the extra RAM and SSD drive was a snap.  My old computer takes almost six minutes to boot up and open Google Chrome.  The new super laptop takes less than 30 seconds.  What am I going to do with all this free time?  71,83,44,0,B

big horns / little horns

Ben latest tip to tip measurement...67 3/8" - and he knows how to use them.  With age comes wisdom.  Brownie only has 1" horns and this is already the second time they have gotten him in trouble.  Kids will be kids.  65,75,32,0,B  

search me

Psalm 139O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.  2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.  3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.  5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.  6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.  7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.  13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.  14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.  19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.  20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.  21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?  22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.  23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

GOAT TOWN

Got the goat herder gig.  Starting off just checking on them every other day and putting out some feed, but will do my best to make myself indispensable.  Too many goats (110) to name - but I've already named the two llamas - Lola and Larry.  First official day on the job was mostly about breaking the ice on their water troughs...we just had another couple days of winter.  Back in the 80's by Tuesday.  39,50,19,0,B  

a friday night film

"a friday night film" is a new feature from TFL for 2017.  I will be uploading a new video at least every Friday.  I plan on keeping the blog "ad free" (I hate blogs loaded with ads) but I have monetized my YouTube channel to increase my chances of making a little money from it someday.  So subscribe, comment, like, and share (likes and shares are the best way to help me increase my subscriber count)...and click on a stupid ad if you feel so inclined.  I have plenty of content planned for this year so stay tuned.  I am also open to suggestions - so leave a comment if there is something you would like to see in the future.  36,40,28,0,W    

Amazon drones?

Got my new laptop yesterday...and some extras today.  Before I even got the computer, I ordered some bits to beef it up.  8 gigs of extra RAM and a 500 gig SSD drive.  I wouldn't have even considered the upgrades...but I came across this video that made it look so smart and simple.  Also added this laptop cooling pad since heat is what killed the laptop I originally came out here with.  Have yet to open a single package since I had a lot of desktop cleaning to do today to make room for the new gear.  Set up this photo of UPS Manny when he came out today to illustrate the remote possibility of Amazon drone deliveries in the future.  67,78,39.0,C

flushed the fridge

First supply run of the year.  Before I even loaded up on stuff, I had another task waiting for me when I got home.  My chest fridge has been long overdue for a clean out.  I keep a plastic tub inside to catch any gooey stuff and the very bottom is lined with water bottles that pretty much stay frozen (cleaning goo out of the very bottom of the fridge is no fun at all).  Found quite a bit of "gooey" at the bottom of the tub.  Got all the good stuff off the top and just dumped the rest in a garbage bag.  Gave the tub a good heavy bleach bath and I am good to go for at least 6 months - as long as nothing spills.  Celebrated the fresh start with a little Fireball.  65,74,48,0,C  

Rain Total 2016

2016 was the best year for rain in the nine years I have been out here.  TFL got 12.37".  The previous record was 11.81" in 2013.  The worst was 2011 with only 3.82" for the whole year.  65,73,37,0,B

thanks for the memories...

For someone who isn't a photographer, I sure take a lot of photos.  Took 5 hours to archive 2014 and 2015 onto two redundant backup external hard drives (my biographer will thank me someday).  Freed up 70.3 gigabytes on my computer hard drive - 14,305 files in all.  9,422 of them where photos from those two years.  That equates to 13 pictures per day. And if you are old school - 261 rolls of film.  60,71,45,0,B  

be new like the year...

Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.