Spaulding Smails

I'm late to the game here, but why can't you have an engineer spec beam for your ceiling joists that runs directly beneath the ridge beam? Install a new 2X or 3X LVL beam that sits on 2X or 3X studs at the gable ends, then add bracing up to the new ridge beam to get rid of that kicker support?

I've taken my deer to Granzin's for 20 years. However, they changed their casing about three years ago. Both the dried smoked sausage (which was my favorite) and the regular smoked sausage now have very firm casings that almost taste synthetic, IMO. My wife shot her first deer this past winter and requested that we take it to Hudson's because she's a big fan of their jalapeno cheddar sausage. I was impressed with everything we got from there. If we don't make our own sausage this winter, we'll be going to Hudson's. A buddy takes his to The Buck Stops Here in Oak HIll. Supposed to be the former head dude at Hudson's that now has his own place. I never thought of trying Johnny G's, but their other stuff is pretty good, so we may have to give that one a shot eventually.

All of this is so true. We sent out the FFCRA documents that allow for up to 80 hours of reimbursable PTO to be leveraged with associated (and documented) testing of symptoms or actual quarantine. And, although our employees are pretty well paid, and we don't have a huge turnover or a big pool of unskilled labor, I do think some of them are taking advantage of that. And, just found out my office manager is positive. So, now I have to do forensics and contact tracing and have the whole office cleaned and sterilized. Fun times!

One more point that I felt deserved a separate post: Have any of you tried to dollarize the cost associated with the prevention and sanitation aspect of Rona? I'm not even talking about opportunity cost, and I'm certainly not putting my cost burden in the same stratosphere as those of you with businesses that have had to close your doors. But, we've seen what we feel is a 5% decrease in productivity based on all the additional precautions, sanitization of tools, health checks, etc. Overhead costs are up. Materials expenses are up for sanitation supplies, hand wash stations, PPE, etc. We're beefing up our "Sanitation Services" line item in our new bids right now to cover those expenses, and we're trying to add to our budgets for that productivity burden, but I'm getting hammered on existing jobs with these unforeseen costs. Curious how everyone else is measuring and accounting for these expenses.

How are those of you who are unable to have employees work remotely dealing with secondary and tertiary exposure? And common ailments? I've been hammered over the last two weeks with employees out for mild ailments. Stuff like headaches and upset stomachs. Pre-Rona they would've continued working or maybe missed a day. Now that we're doing daily health checks, I'm keeping them home at the first sign of any symptom and requiring testing before they can return. I've had six employees (10% of my workforce) in the past week miss time based on potential symptoms. Four have come back negative and two are pending (and are sitting home until those results come back). Most have been out for 3-5 days awaiting test results, but symptoms have subsided long before test results come back. We had a subcontractor that worked with us June 22 come back positive. Just found out this week. He reported to his employer June 23 that he felt crappy. Mild symptoms and he got tested June 26. So, two weeks ago. I had four guys on the job with him June 22 at the time (outdoors and we were requiring masks at that time), but no direct contact. I notified them and none of them have shown symptoms. I haven't required them to get tested. Should I? Today, my office manager notified me that her grandson was feeling bad yesterday, so he went to the doctor, got tested and results are already back as positive. She hasn't been around him, but she did see her daughter (the kid's mom) Monday. She's not sick, but let me know about the potential secondary exposure. Good news is, she's working from home 80% of the time and only coming in to the office to check the mail, cut checks, etc. I shut the office down completely today, and we're having it sanitized tomorrow. Given the numbers in Central Texas and the increase in testing, it seems as if we all have possibly had exposure if we look hard enough and extend the contact tracing far enough. What's the reasonable line for keeping people home when mildly sick and how do you deal with secondary / tertiary exposure?

Yep. That's what I'm looking for. "Meaty" is the best description I've heard yet. I saw one driving on 290 two weeks ago that was just what you described that got me going on this kick. I think I may go with 37 ATs.

So, I'm about due to replace the tires on my F350. I was originally thinking of adding a leveling kit, but now reconsidering. My truck actually fits in my garage, which I love. I have a headache rack, and I'm right at 7'3" with stock tires (34" Michelin 275/65R20) and no lift. I have 7'8" of clearance when my garage door is open. So, I realistically have 4+" to play with. I'd like the truck to sit a bit higher, and I like the look of larger tires without doing anything crazy. Not a fan of wide tires, so I want to keep them inside the wheel well. I'm fine with the stock rims, but would change out if necessary. I'm thinking of going with 38" all-terrains to start and see how that looks. Will they fit without a lift? Should I consider swapping out rims? My plan would be to see how they look and ride, check clearance in my garage, then maybe add a 1.5" leveling kit if my maths work. Thoughts?

I don't know if they work on individual vehicles, but I've always taken my diesel trucks to Johnson's Fleet. They're near the airport. 512-389-2121. Give them a call and see if they'll work on it. If not, I bet they can point you in the right direction.

Yep. We have an 8'x8' walk-in. Actually just welded up the A-frame inside it last week.

Regarding our "axis problem", I need to make a bit more room in the deep freeze at home, but definitely planning on whacking a few before WT season kicks off.

We've noticed the same thing. When they come in to the feeders, the whitetail bail. We seem to have a ton of smaller axis bucks this year. Seems like the axis are way more nomadic than the whitetail. They'll be there for a week, then disappear for a few weeks before we see them again. My dad and I built this little alfalfa rack near the house to sit on the porch to watch deer. My mom took this pic with her telephoto lens. Believe it or not, it's about 80 yds from the house. And that pic was taken after dusk.

I finally finished up all the landscaping on my backyard project, so now I'm shifting my focus back to the pit. Got the frames welded up and installed this weekend. Need to measure for doors so I can get those sent off to get cut. Hoping to have them back in two weeks so I can install the second weekend in July.

Been getting some decent pics from our place over the last few weeks. Starting to see some nontypical points on a few deer. I really think that protein feeding is helping. The genetics kind of suck out here, but the deer are healthy. I'm hoping we get a decent whitetail in the next few years for my son to shoot. Anyone have any experience aging axis? I feel like I'm decent at aging whitetail on the hoof. No experience with axis. This one seems pretty young. Maybe 2-1/2?

I'm late to the game, but I was going to suggest buying this to drill out the table leg. To make sure it's perfectly straight and whatnot. https://www.elitemetaltools.com/tool-shop/products/jet-egh-2180-elite-21x80-large-spindle-bore-clutch-lathe-892250?sku=892250&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8aGj3uCp6gIVDtvACh1_bwK3EAQYASABEgIp0fD_BwE

Ahhhh. Yep. I stand corrected.

That is bad ass. Send more detail pics when you get a chance. One question: Is that handle for the firebox baffle supposed to be on the inside? Seems like that door is reversed.

The Son, though not nonfiction, is a hell of a book. One of my all-time favorites. I just finished Empire of the Summer Moon as well, though I did that one on AudioBook. I love all things Larry McMurtry, especially the Lonesome Dove saga. I just finished The Last Kind Words Saloon. Not his best book, but a good, quick read. I started God Save Texas on a trip to Phoenix in January, but left the book in the hotel. I need to re-buy it so I can finish it. Back on the topic of nonfiction, I recently read The German Settlement of the Texas Hill Country by Jefferson Morgenthaler. Though not a page-turner, it was a good read for someone with German roots in Central Texas. My great-great-great grandfather came over from Germany and settled near Brenham, and a lot of what is described in that book parallels my family's history and migration westward through the Hill Country. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in that stuff.

Ooooh. Me likey. What brand?

This is a touchy subject, and I totally get the multiple viewpoints. It's funny how vernacular can cause a tiff. We have a little under 300 acres in Kimble County. No livestock. Just hunting and generally messing around when we're out there. When talking to my kids or friends we call it "the ranch" as in "we may head out to the ranch this weekend". That's just how it started when we bought the place and it's stuck. When I'm talking to anyone else, I'm cognizant about not referring to it as a ranch. Because it isn't. There's no ranching happening out there. It's a fun place to hang out, shoot guns, look at the stars and have a campfire, but it's not a ranch.

Did not get video. Typical 16 year old reaction. Tried to be a bad ass, then walked outside to "eat his breakfast on the porch" where I found that he threw his food in the trash. Would never admit that it was too hot. And yes, he needs his ass whipped. I took him kayak fishing yesterday morning. He swears he's a fishing pro. Throwing a baitcaster. He spent 75% of the time fighting backlashes. Then, when we loaded up the kayaks, he didn't follow my directions on where to put everything in the bed of the truck. Which resulted in my nice carbon fiber paddle falling out and getting run over by another vehicle. So, that was a $300 fishing kayak fishing trip. I have other stories on here about my BIL and his wife / step-kids. Unfortunately, this whole weekend was pretty much par for the course.

My step-nephew is in town. 16 years old. Staying for a long weekend. He's an OK kid, but kind of an idiot (like most 16 year olds). For example, he drove up with his older brother yesterday from Houston and somehow ended up in Waco instead of Dripping Springs before he realized he wasn't following his GPS correctly. Well, he proceeded to shoot my wife in the arm with an air soft gun yesterday afternoon. Not an accident. Just wanted to get a rise out of her. I didn't find out about it until I got home from work. She said she would handle it, so I didn't confront him or intervene. He loves my wife's homemade blackberry jam. So much so, that he asked for it for Christmas and requested a jar to take home after this weekend. My wife is making eggs, sausage and biscuits for breakfast this morning. She had a bit of blackberry jam left in the jar that is currently in the fridge. She added a finely diced habanero to it last night. I'm waiting for a report on how her revenge is received. He hates all things spicy (to the point that he won't even eat bell peppers because they're too hot), so I fully anticipate a complete and total meltdown.

Garrapatas is correct. Haven't heard that term in ages. My grandpa's old Mexican buddy we used to hunt with outside of Orange Grove would warn me and my cousin about them during dove season.

$3,500 or so for the chiller. It runs on 230V 50A. PPE in Austin where I bought it told me the electricity cost would be about $20/week during the summer which seems about right. So, maybe a little less than running an additional AC unit. Probably comparable to a mini-split.

Agreed. Don't go rot-gut, but no need to go super premium. Anything you'd put in a decent margarita is great in a ranch water. Silver seems to be better than gold / reposado / anejo for ranch water, IMO. Hornitos is great and easy to find. I've been using Tierra Noble and Tequia Ocho for my ranch water. Both are outstanding.

https://www.pentair.com/en/products/pool-spa-equipment/pool-heaters/ultratemp_high_performanceheatpump.html Pentair UltraTemp 140 H/C