Progress: The RainCrow Writing Cave. Part 3

 Since the side wall has been open for awhile, one of the landlord's roving hens has made a rather itchy nest in my pile of insulation. I've gathered a half dozen eggs from here in the course of my labors so far! When I close up the sides for good I'll have to find her another space.

The skin is back on, and I'm piecing together the area around the replacement window. You can see it is a bit narrower and taller than the original, which was identical to the one to the right of it. In order to keep the tin pattern the same I chose to re-use the piece cut from the bottom part of the opening and make shingles of it to go up the side. There was just enough.

 Here is what that looks like. I suppose it was a toss up whether that is any better than adding a solid piece of flat metal, I had one I could have used. After painting perhaps it won't be too noticeable. However, I could always add fake shutters on the sides if it bothers me later.

The replacement window is installed. Looks pretty good, actually. Fortunately, the panes are enough of a match to visually match the lines of the other window, so it almost looks like it belongs there.

Here is the door re-hung. Should I be honest and admit I had problems with this step? Somehow in the framing process the right side of the door jamb shifted a bit and the hole was slightly too narrow at the bottom to accept the door. I had to cut some things loose, as well as the siding, and shift things back a bit to get the door back in. 
On second thought, I won't admit it, don't tell anyone, okay?
All that is left to do with this part in this pic is to add a trim piece over the door and along the bottom to cover the new outside floor joist. Some caulking will also be done before painting.

Remember this? this was the same area when I started. No more eggs in here for a while, anyway.

 The next part of the project will be to tackle this bad corner. The dark strip to the right is a strip of pegboard, there is a second one above it. These will be handy, but I'll have to remove them temporarily. All the wall framing is rotten in this corner. It'll be an interesting fix.

The end window to the right will be replaced as well with another of those taller windows. It's broken, and will have to be re-framed anyway, like the previous one was. The side window on the left of this picture is a good one, but some of the framing for it needs work. I'll know when I get the paneling pulled off. I'm hoping I don't have to remove this part of the skin. The end wall is already coming off. No doubt the hen will move back in when I open it up!
Eggs are good!
Back to work! I've already had word that I'm losing one of my storage spaces soon, so the pressure is on!

Tractors and Permaculture

..I can fix stuff.
It's not my career these days. If I have a career. I'm working on my writing, looking for some Permaculture to design for somebody, making flutes, helping with intarsia, putting in some time at our booth at Sherwood Forest Faire.
But I enjoy fixing stuff.
I grew up in farm/ranch country in a gas station/garage, learning how to fix cars, tractors, farm machinery, just about anything that came along. My grandparents raised me there, my grandfather was a darn good mechanic of the old school blacksmith/Model T mechanic sort.
I understand, and totally agree that farming practices need to change. No-till farming, organics, key-line plowing, all of that is needed, and urgently, for us all to survive. The old ways were wasteful, damaging, and woefully inefficient. We need new machinery for the new methods, and equipment running on bio-diesel, at the very minimum. At least you can grow your own fuel with bio-diesel.
However,
no matter how ancient, inefficient, and out-moded they may be, when I see old farm equipment rusting away somewhere I have a near unbearable urge to fix it, put it back to use. In most cases it really doesn't take too much to do that.
I have this thrifty nature, stuff should be used. If it's broke, fix it and use it. Even more inefficient to let it rust away. Sure, it can be recycled, but that seems like a cop-out. We can't fix it, so we'll melt it down and start over. (Of course that's basically the truth.)
It's an irrational desire, really. I couldn't possibly repair all the stuff I see out there. Not enough time for all of it, plus, truth be told, physically I'm more in supervisor mode these days. All in all, farm equipment is much easier to fix than automobiles, but still, I don't think I'm up to the contortions required on a day in, day out basis.
I'd like to, though.
I like to fix stuff.
Someone on one of my Permie lists asked a question about tractors. What to get for a certain use. I immediately thought of the venerable Ford 8N tractor. It's been around since the 1940's I believe. Zillions were made, a very compact tractor. Very simple, Model T simple. In fact, the motor looks like it came out of a Model T, or Model A perhaps. The thing is, you can pick one up for cheap, parts are everywhere still, you can even get parts off the shelf at Tractor Supply. I had one myself fairly recently. They are a bit small for serious farming, but plenty of farmers used them anyway.

Where do you draw the line? A tractor you can get cheaply, fix yourself, that will probably still out-last you? Or shell out a premium price for some small new diesel. A Kubota, perhaps, a very good small tractor as well. However, can you fix it? Can whoever does fix it, keep on fixing it? I can't answer that.

My thrifty nature usually rules. Less money, and fixable by me. But, it does make me feel a bit guilty. How badly am I hurting the planet? Do other things make up for it?
I don't know.
But if you want to get your 8N running, let me know!