Bogieblog

Fueling Up

Since the winter of 2013/2014, wood pellet markets have been wild. Pellets have at times been scarce, and expensive. Last year I was thankful to find decent (not good, just decent) pellets at H*me Dep*t for $259/ton. Other decent pellets were going for upwards of $300/ton while the really good stuff could get up to $400/ton. But, with high oil and propane prices, I couldn't complain and still saved huge compared to propane prices. And I was thankfull too that last year, although some places had pellet shortages, I was always able to find what I needed (being able to store a couple ton in the basement helped too).

The pellet makers responded to the last two hard winters by making sure we had an abundance of pellets, and the Big Box Stores (BBS) likewise brought in huge stores of inventory, which is good in a sense. However, they are at the same prices as last year and with the mild winter, and cheaper oil, pellets were sitting and few were buying (those few were people like me who still save money over propane by using pellets). I started off the season with 5+ tons; four I bought in the fall and I had a bit over a ton left from last season. I have bought 5-10 bags of pellets here and there when I could find a good deal on something I hadn't tried and I have about 2.5 tons in the house/garage to get me thru the rest of this season (unless the weather gets really wacky, I should have plenty left).

A couple of weeks ago L*we's lowered their decent pellets to $199/ton, with free delivery if you bought at least 2 tons. I had 2 tons delivered about 10 days ago

Monday is the last day of the sale, and HD hasn't lowered their price any, so I decided to order another couple of tons. Those will be delivered in the middle of the week. If HD lowers their price, I will probably get some of theirs too.If I get the chance to get some of the really good pellets at around the $259/ton mark, I will try to grab some of those as well. I may have to store a lot outside, but I need to take advantage of both the supply and the prices.

See, all the talk on the pellet forums is on what will happen next year. Several pellet plants have been shut down for the last month or so because they aren't selling their stock. Some of them may never reopen. Those that do, will probably not produce as many pellets next year to reduce their chances of being burned on the market again. The BBS will probably not order the inventory as they did this year, for the same reason. If those ideologies hold true and we have a tough winter next year, there may be pellet shortages and/or outrageous prices.

It will be interesting to see what happens next winter. It will also be interesting to see how big a lean-to or storage tent I need to set up.

New Tunes

When driving the Explorer, I have had an issue with the radio. Oh, it works fine, but it is the stock radio in a 2004 vehicle, so there is no place to plug in my MP3 player. It has a CD player, but can't play burned CD's (the only ones I have now). Around here, radio reception is iffy, except for a couple of stations. Either those stations play stuff I don't want to listen to, or have about 20 ads for every song they play, so is very aggravating.

After perusing the Ford Explorer forum, I found a good recommendation on where to get a new radio for cheap. I went to Crutchfield's and got a basic radio/CD player that has the AUX port and it was at closeout price. Included in the price was the wiring harness, the dash cover (I went from double-din to single-din) and shipping.

I've had the radio for 3-4 weeks, just either didn't have the opportunity to do the swap, or it was bone-chilling cold so I wasn't going to sit out in that weather and do it. Last Sunday was a nice, sunny day, so I tackled the project. Wiring the harness to the radio was easy as all the wire colors matched up. The dash came apart easily, and the plugs were were they were supposed to be.

So, in the matter of about 1.5 hours the job was done (I'm slow, nervous and a klutz). The stock radio

The new radio (upper part is a small cubby hole)

I haven't tried the CD player, but the AUX port works great with my MP3 player, so I am happy.

Baby it's Cold Outside

Yesterday was cold with brutal windchills. This morning is the coldest morning I remember - definitely the coldest since I've been at this house at -21 degrees

By 2 pm, with a cloudless, sunny sky it had climbed to the high for the day at +4 degrees. It is all downhill from there.

Pellet stoves have done a wonderful job of keeping it warm in the house. Did have a brief scare with power flickers, but thank goodness nothing permanent.

By middle of the week we will be back in the 40's or 50's - I can live with that :)

New Parts

I dropped the Explorer off Thursday night so they could replace the bumper Friday. Picked it up today. Here is the massive damage that I never noticed.

Here is the new bumper

Still can't believe they replaced the whole thing for those scratches. Really, I never would have known and it's not like the bumper would have rotted away from them. And actually, probably one of the cheapest parts to replace on the whole vehicle looking at the invoice that the insurance paid.

Explorer Ready to Explore Again

I got the call on Thursday that the insurance adjuster had been in to the shop and authorized several things:

• Break down the tire that got hit, take out the plastic parts that were wedged between tire and rim, remount, and balance
• 4 wheel alignment. No other problems were noted, but the 4 wheel alignment would help determine if other things were out of wack
• Order a new front bumper as there was damage (holy cow, I didn't notice damage and neither did anyone else that looked at it.

So, they did the tire stuff and alignment and ordered the bumper. That will take some time to get in, so when I dropped off the Focus for inspection (it passed!), I picked up the truck. I took a look at the bumper and there are just a couple of minor scratches. Nothing I ever would have noticed or expected to have fixed - especially since it is rubber/plastic/composite, so its not like it will rust. However, this vehicle was in truly excellent condition cosmetically when I bought it (except a known defect on the back door), and the bank expects it to be restored to that condition, so that is what they are doing.

Both vehicles are home and when I get the call that the bumper is in, I'll drop the truck off for a day. Meanwhile, I figure I have warded off any more snow until then; the local TV station says the computer is showing 2 models for Mon/Tues - one that the system completely misses us, the other that we get a good storm - I know which we would have gotten if I only had the Focus :)

Now Winter Visits

Put the truck in the shop Tuesday evening - only a bit of rain in the forecast. Thursday  at lunch, the forecast was a light dusting over a couple hour span around noon Friday. Thursday evening the forecast was 1-3" starting shortly before the morning commute and ending right about lunch time.

By noon, I knew I wouldn't make it home - 8" and still another 3-5" forecast. There is no way I can drive the Focus in this so have to get a hotel room.  More snow to come on Sunday and on Monday.

Already cancelled the Sat 7 am appointment to get the Focus inspected. Which means I won't even have a legal vehicle to drive next week.

My life just keeps finding different ways to eff with me.

UPDATE: Well, where hotel rooms are available (not close to here), they are $360 for the night. The elections are next week. decided to try the drive home and made it alive. Actually had less snow at my place, although the roads were a bit worse. Called and re-established my appointment in the morning, so should be legal for driving next week.