No wondering here... wishing and hoping more like.

Quote
...Two and three year olds choking on the filtered water of a dozen middle aged crotches...

I almost spat out my coffee with that one...  now I can't get it out of my head.

We have a pool at work, and a daycare.  My daughter goes to summer camp while school is out.  Kind of convenient I can go see her on my lunch break and such.  She told me (she's 7) that when they ask to go pee, the counselors tell them to just pee in the pool.  Not bad when one pees in the pool, but when a group of 20 regularly go every day of the week...  well..  dunno. 

thinking about a gigantic magnifying glass...


tour the local dump......Fresnel lens from a rear projection TV !.......be careful you don't set your outhouse on fire !

Quote from: UK4X4 on June 16, 2017, 09:34:49 AM
thinking about a gigantic magnifying glass...


tour the local dump......Fresnel lens from a rear projection TV !.......be careful you don't set your outhouse on fire !

Hmmmmm

serious

gonna check that out

I do believe I've already posted a form of this in a thread somewhere here

but

It'll be in the intro page to my next book of our tryst with cabin living

and

as they say

it's not required reading

ahem;

A few years ago a lad from Scotland I'd gotten to know asked me how my Dad was doing, as I'd shared with him Dad's failings in what turned out to be his final year.
Maybe some of you folks can identify with what I wrote him.
In any event, I feel compelled to put it here.
You see, my Dad was my hero.
Oh, I wasn't his favorite, but that didn't matter.
For many years he was God to me, could do no wrong, I hid my wrongs from him.
Sure, as I grew, I saw his faults, but, they were few.
And mine became less as I used him as a life model.

Here's what I wrote;

He's a gamer, Rick.
Days ago he was on his death bed.
Chemo and infection was taking him down...quick.
He's on the rebound.
To where... I have no idea.
I visited him last weekend while he was staying at the rehab center (nursing home).
Didn't readily recognize him.
No hair
Tiny head
Sunken eyes
Chair stickin' half way outta the room, lookin' out into the hall.
He looks like wunna those children with an aging disease.
He really lit up when he saw me.
I immediately felt real bad for not coming sooner.
He got up and scooted his chair back into the room, shuffling, pushing.
He invited me to sit.
There was only one extra chair
I think it had a piece of [censored] smeared on it.
He had some sorta string of dried drool and blood comin' from his lower lip, ending at his chin.
It made me sick to my stomach to look at him.
My Dad
My finicky Dad
The guy that remained well scrubbed, no matter what he did.
The guy with the weakest of stomachs.
The guy that just couldn't eat if he thought the cook hadn't washed his hands.
There he was...disgusting
and so very happy to see me.
I wanted to stay and leave at the same time.
We went on a conversation loop.
He has about ten minutes of thought processing, then it starts all over again.
I grabbed his attention by saying I was thinking about going to church.
He did a feeble punch into the air, and displayed a flash of his tenacious old self, gritting his teeth and smiling with delight.
His old eyes lit up again, then welled, spilling tears as he told me how happy that made him.
Now I was disgusted with myself.
I wanted to cry along with him. I just can't. It's not in me.
I hadn't lied.
I do think about it.
I think about conversation with rabid religionaires, and know why none of it is for me.
It was a visit of diverse emotions.
The nurse's aide came in.
He questioningly introduced me as his cousin.
Well, in twenty minutes I'd completely muddled what's left of his blithering mind.
I gave him a slight hug and left him with the aide.

Driving home my thoughts were fixed on him.
What he is
What he once was
What I am
What I'm going to become
I recalled him and his cousin, his brother he never had, and how they talked about their aged parents
There is no fairness
There is just fact
Inescapable inevitable fact
It made me realize my own fallibility
I really don't want to see him again
I will though
As long as I can make him happy, whether it's a veiled lie, or just being there, I will see him, hug him, chat with him.
He has earned that...at the very least.
He's a withered dying old man.
Cancer will take him.
I don't think I have the guts for this, and what's next, deteriorating visits
What have we done to think it good to keep my hero existing in his filth with confounded thoughts for as long as medically possible...
The Aleuts know what to do
The long walk and the bonk on the bean.
It's much more heroic...respectful.

Thanks for asking, kid.

Enjoy thy youth

I started to write more about his last days;

Dad
As I look at you there, a bit shriveled, somewhat vacant eyed, I wonder, wonder why you struggle so.
What's left for you that's so precious?
I think about you and me, so many years ago now.
Visiting grampa in the nursing home.
You, yelling in his ear.
Hoping for a sign, a flicker of recognition.
Him, shallow breath. Not moving a muscle.
I can only think that the prevailing reason for the struggle is
the love
of life itself

I have yet to finish this
I will
someday
But
I've come to know
The experience around my father
The good years
The latter years
Seeing him drive, hard, for the next goal
Living in the future
Existing in the present
Brought me to a realization
And a recognition
Of a deeper why my lady and I are living in a cabin
Our childhood dreams, yes
But even more so, a more deliberate life
One of immediate reward

Been two years out here

No regrets

Cutting wood today

Gonna be gorgeous

More than once I wished there was a like button.  So much of what you wrote reminds me of my dad in his final days (months).  Twice a boy and once a man often enters my mind.  Then a small part of regret enters my mind but I am constantly reminded that once you leave home and start a family of you own that you have flow from the nest and stretch you wings to fly another direction.  Gone but never forgotten.

'Twice a boy and once a man'

got that right, sir John

Thanks for sharing.  Brings up a lot of memories... 

Quote from: Adam Roby on June 22, 2017, 08:44:55 PM
Thanks for sharing.  Brings up a lot of memories...

Job: done

Had a surprise drop in today

heard 'em last summer
many fly overs

up to now, never a chance for a pic

today

today was special

heard him

close

dropped everthing and ran to the cabin for my camera

didn't dream he'd pose for so long

Beautiful! I have only seen one at our place, he was chewing on a nice big steelhead he plucked from the river, but when I ran to grab my camera, he picked up his fish and flew away.

Yes, that's been my luck

up til yesterday

Calling it my 4th of July treat

Been a long time bud!  How have you faired with the fires so nearby!?  I drove by the area on the 5th and wondered how close we came as we hit 97 off 230....

Hey pard
You were prolly within ten miles
If you stopped to eat at the casino, I apologise
Better 'food' is next door at the junction (truck stop)
Gonna PM my ph number for yer next trip

Smoke hell this summer
Sun is weirdly gorgeous
It rained, first of the summer, a few days ago
Cleaned the air a bit
No more skeeters
Not sure if the smoke or grasshoppers killed 'em off

Heh, grasshoppers
Eat
everthing
When I go to the meadow to bathe they flit about me
Feel like their king
Maybe I can lead them to the nearest wildfire

Anyway
Been the summer of the roof
I
Hate
Building
Roofs (rooves?)

Needful things they are
Nothing redeemable though
No beauty
Ugly can happen, however, and rather easily

The aged RV was first
Didn't care to erect a garage
Not worth the investment
Designed a light web like structure (engineering marvel/menace) of 2x2s to just rest on the beast
Laid metal on that
Plan on nylon rope to hold down what could become a metal sail if the perfect storm happens
May just screw on some 2x6s and bid adieu
Will install soffits in a bit
Heh, the thing now looks like it's wearing some sorta party hat
for it's last hurrah

I hope a tree falls on it so I can look caringly at my woman and helplessly shrug, then hold her in my arms, patting (hiding an evil grin)

Moved on to the well house
I contended with a short hut like structure for two winters
Built it in a rush tween building the second (main) cabin
Of which was a real rush to have a place to live
This winter I will;
stroll inside
switch propane tanks
fire up the genny
draw water
all while standing fully erect (much like modern man)

I've come to the conclusion our sea container is gonna be a long living unsightly fixture in my forest haven, so decided to use it for wunna the walls


Anyway, I'm not thrilled with it
But not entirely unhappy, either
Gonna use cedar fencing for board and bat siding

In a nutshell, this hoary critter has toiled most the summer with regard to winter, and with dogged determination to completely rid any forest feng shui I've been able to retain up to this point

Next
A 'thing' that will keep snow off the truck while mothballed for winter
Maybe a crude A frame 'roof' (there's that word again)
Maybe a hoop affair
Whatever it is, it's not gonna cost much and will be easily torn down come spring

Tired
Quite tired
And sore
Next summer, a roof for the container

Thanks for the touch, OJ
Sad I missed y'all

Keep a fire

This summer has little or few regrets
Summer here
Is so friggin' easy
But
Feelin' a chill in the mornin' air
Starting an early fire felt so very good this AM
Coffee
Was most complimentary

just read through your post and enjoyed myself!  I love the things you've made and done.   Keep up the good/hard work and stay safe up there!

Quote from: w1ck3tt on September 14, 2017, 07:39:03 AM
.....and stay safe up there!

I gotta remember that one

thank you, w1ck, for the kind words

Preparing to brace for the cold
Things are as tight as I can get 'em


the well shack has already paid huge dividends



No complaints about the summer
'cept it's duration


aaand

I've got wood butcher's withdrawal
....and writer's block

Busy with the little things, like a hanging peg for my over/under, but just ain't enough


My Lady is happy, though, to not have to sweep around it
and it's handier from the bed

This Willys transaction was one of my fondest (unreal in every way) fantasies
Knowing what I've seen has been over 5 grand and east of the Mississippi


I'm still pinching myself

But, have shelled out some considerable dough for me

Not the best of feelings
I think I know what Scrooge felt like
But, yeah, I'll get over it
Gonna eat oatmeal for breakfast til it's replaced

Third Year Synopsis;

Going into our third winter
Not sure if 'complacent' is the word, but....

Chores, the first year, were an adventure, and mostly triumph

Git anything done, and it turned out right, well, the smile would not fade

The second year was more determination and commitment than anything, as building essential structures like a shop were all consuming

This third year things are beginning to become repetitious
Oh, I still offer a prayer of thanks ever time I draw water

...and one swells in me during the morning rise




And still have that somebody pinch me feeling while butchering wood in my shop, or even tossing a log in the stove

But

We are, what is it...settled in, yeah, that's it, settled in

...and it's a mighty calming thing for this soul

Y'all keep a fire

I'll be in the shop

Just read your entire thread Gary.  Wow...that was good!  Love your pics and your writing.

Quote from: Beavers on December 07, 2017, 11:31:55 PM
Just read your entire thread Gary.  Wow...that was good!  Love your pics and your writing.

Thank you, Beavers. Glad you enjoyed.
I must apologize for my outright laziness in not replacing those defunct photobucket pics early on.

I'd like to take a moment here to comment on my thoughts of photobucket;
(censored) (censored) (censored) (censored), oh, and (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored)

Lastly;
(censored) (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored) (censored)

I somehow feel better now,
although still (censored)

Glad you posted bud   Was wondering how life in the woods was treatin' ya

Hey, pard.

Santy O' has just thrown hisself into an adventure
Makin' a pie safe for missus O'claus

the adventure part is live edge doors, with screens

(she's makin' me a hooded sweater, but I don't know it)

You comin' this way come break up?

Imagine I will be down that way but may not be until July when we do the re-union in GP

Bringing the camper though so might be able to stop by for a visit

Quote from: OlJarhead on December 10, 2017, 07:33:24 PM
Imagine I will be down that way but may not be until July when we do the re-union in GP

Bringing the camper though so might be able to stop by for a visit

Gimmee two/three days notice so we can have enough steak and grog

Mmmmm sounds like a plan

We'll have to see as the re-union (mom's side -- Scott's) is a 4 or 5 day affair I think but we will darn near drive right by on the way to 97

If you can, great
It'd be nice
I'd like to shake the hand of a fellow cabin builder

However, I know road trips.....

safe travels, pard

keep a fire