Category Archives: work

Fixed, well almost

December 1, 2019worksusanmanzke

After discussing our broken washer with friends on the internet we took action.

Bob said to check the water-screen. I thought we’d have to pull the washer out of its space against the wall…..a lot of work if you asked me. Bob said we do that in the basement where the water comes up from the basement.

The screens were clean.

The next step was to switch the hot and cold connections. Bob didn’t think this would work, but he didn’t understand my plan–based on friends’ ideas for us.

The cold water now comes out of the hot connection. The hot water, replaced the cold so it doesn’t work.

I can fill the tub with cold water automatically now. I do not have to carry any water. I just have to listen when the washer stops, trying to fill for the rinse cycle. At this point, I turn the dial back to the start position and it fills with cold water again.

I wash and rinse in cold water.

The problem still exists, but I can use the washing machine and did today. We won’t have to look for a new washer, not until something else breaks on my machine.

I’m satisfied.

Washing machine problems

November 30, 2019worksusanmanzke

For months I was without a clothes dryer. That was fixed just as the weather made hanging clothes outside more difficult. Now I have a problem with our washer.

The washer won’t let cold water in to fill the tank. I have only hot water to wash in. The worst part is that the washer only uses cold for the rinse cycle.

The rest of the machine works perfectly. The guy who fixed the dryer said we need a part to fix the cold water problem, but since the machine is old he can’t get it, so he couldn’t fix the washer.

I am still using this washer.

I put some hot water into the tank and then haul cold water from the kitchen sink to finish filling it.

This isn’t the optimal way to wash clothes, but it works. We may look for a new machine next week. But I get ticked off that the washing machine works, mostly. We shouldn’t need a new one.

Bob looked on the internet for parts, but couldn’t find any there either. The good thing is that it’s only the two of us who live here. It really would be difficult if it was the days when we had four children living with us. Back then it was hard keeping up with the tons of laundry even with a working machine.

Right now I get exercise by hauling water. That’s not a big hardship. It just ticks me off that we can’t fix my mostly-working machine so it can fill properly.

Expert driver

October 4, 2019Farming, Odds and ends, Sunnybook Farm, worksusanmanzke

Yesterday afternoon I was on the Internet visiting face to face with friend, Pauline, in Tasmania. At the same time, Bob was waiting for a truck to arrive to pick up the corpse of an old tractor.

I didn’t know exactly when Bob went outside. I was too involved with Pauline. We hadn’t connected in months and I didn’t want to miss the time with her–it was 3:45 pm Thursday here and 6:45 am Friday in Hobart, Tasmania. You can see why it’s hard to connect at the same time.

If I had been outside, I would have taken photos of the tractor (missing one large back wheel) as it was loaded on the truck. Bob was impressed with the process.

Months ago, someone else tried loading that tractor and couldn’t. He left it out in a spot where it was in the way. We were so glad when this truck came and was successful with the loading.

I arrived as the last chains were set in place after the tractor was loaded.

The truck couldn’t use our farm driveway as that is just mushy from all the rain. He was sure to have gotten stuck there.

Instead, he had to back out between our buildings, which was a tight squeeze.

I held my breath as he backed out. The mirrors on his truck were sure to hit the building.

No worries. This expert driver knew exactly what he was doing and was soon on the road with his load.

Both Bob and I were impressed.

Hip-hip-hooray!

September 30, 2019Odds and ends, worksusanmanzke

For the last two and a half months, I’ve been without a clothes dryer. Hanging hasn’t been much fun. Rain kept making life interesting.

My clothes felt and looked like they have been starched. What was worse was the towels. They were like sandpaper.

Three weeks ago a repairman came. He figured out we needed a heater coil. He went back to the shop to order it.

A week and a half later the part was in but we werent’ home the day he had time to come.

Eventually, the repairman and the part arrived. Success! Or so I thought. When I threw in wet towels the drum didn’t turn and worse yet smoke came out of the door when I opened it!!!!

The repairman couldn’t come right back. He needed a few days for minor surgery.

Today he arrived. The drive belt had slipped off and the motor turning against it caused the smoke.

He fixed it easily and was out of here in ten minutes.

Towels were ready to be dried.

The second batch was very stiff jeans.

I am so happy.

Bob’s Home remedy

September 19, 2019Bob, creativity, food, worksusanmanzke

Bob was the first one to tell me about this clotting agent. Years ago he asked me to save the pepper packets from our fast food order. He wanted them for his toolbox.

Black pepper will stop bleeding when applied to an open cut.

Many mechanics, farmers, and others who work with tools may know this trick,

Black pepper is naturally antibacterial so that’s another positive for this helpful aid.

I do not recommend this for a large wound, but those pesky small bleeding cuts seem suitable, especially when working far from other help.

I’ve known Bob to wrap a dirty rag around a cut and continue working after cutting himself. It had to be something big to get him in the house for help–oh yeah, if a cut was bloody when he got inside to help he often fainted. He hasn’t fainted at the sight of blood in a long time, so maybe he’s outgrown it.

Google for additional informational pepper uses–I’m no doctor, but I thought I’d pass along Bob’s suggestion.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person