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Saturn Swamp

PapaSaturn's Swamplog

We bought a house on 59.3 acres... of wetlands!

That's right, a Mosquito Ranch!

Yup, Phragmites Farm!

This web page is intended as a chronicle of our (mis)adventure in preserving the wildlife habitat while creating our home. We've spotted a number of "critters" on the land, chipmunks, red squirrels, small rabbits, green herons, cardinals, quail (The SwampWife says they're quail, I think they are doves...).

We have some questionable sightings too, was it a badger or a skunk? It was late, it was dark, and I wasn't about to walk up to it and ask it!

Was it a hedgehog, or a baby raccoon? The picture didn't come out and it wouldn't let me get a close enough look before it ran into the underbrush. Additional sightings and searches through picture databases lead us to believe that it is a marmot. During our first few months here we hadn't actually SEEN any deer actually ON the property, there are trails with tiny hoofprints all over, and we spotted one deer crossing the street from the neighbor's yard on Friday, October 13th...

Further on into the winter we spotted several deer, always in even numbered groups. The "buddy system" or just coincidence, you decide.

 

March 31st, 2004

Another ring necked pheasant encounter has occurred, but I was on foot and didn't have my camera on hand...

This has been a hard winter for Clifford the Big Red Truck. The batteries died a hard death due to hard starting. So I replaced the batteries and had the Ford dealership check out the charging system, which was fine. I asked them to check the glow plugs, but they didn't think it was necessary. So, when the new batteries died (!) I had Clifford towed to the dealership and and insisted that they check the glow plugs. Four of the glow plugs were burnt out.

On February 3rd, Clifford came home... and slipped off the driveway. But I managed to keep going, over the moat and most of the way up the driveway, sideways. While trying to get straightened out, I ended up with both driver's side tires off the driveway. This was not a good thing.

Mired in muck, I climbed out the passenger door and hiked the rest of the way up the driveway.

It took more than a month of digging, jacking, shimming, and rocking to get Clifford out again. Mind you, it wasn't a daily effort, I was only able to work at this on weekends.

But, isn't Clifford a 4x4 you ask?

Yes, but, the u-joints on the front drive shaft chose THIS MOMENT to go on a permanent vacation. By the time I got Clifford out on the 20th the front drive shafts were toast.

The dealership that I had been getting my work done at wanted three grand to get Clifford roadworthy and offroadworthy, a mere grand to get him to the point of passing inspection. Things weren't looking good for Clifford, retirement was close at hand.

In looking for a replacement vehicle (Diesel, 4x4, high clearance) I was referred to a local mechanic who was only two blocks away (in other words, a short three mile drive.)

He gave Clifford the once over and quoted $1053 to get him back to good health! So, Clifford has gotten a second lease on life here at the swamp.

Clifford is back in service, happily running on biodiesel. I'm now looking at a heated fuel tank so Clifford can run on straight veggie oil.

Click here to read more of the swamp story.

 

 

 

 

 

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