(https://i.imgur.com/wN8BI3Q.jpg)
Hi all.
New guy here.
Just trying to get a mental grasp of the format.
Here's our cabin we built a couple years ago.
One day we plan to retire on our 2+ acres
Right now we are slowly adding amenities.....
Hope to get some good ideas here
Thanks for having me
Gary O'
w* Gary. Looks nice a warm and cozy in there.
That is very nice. Is that a closet or a bathroom door I see at the back wall?
w* Cute little cabin - as Don said - "looks warm & cozy in there."
There's lots of friendly & helpful people on this forum who have built some really nice cabins.
Welcome aboard! Looks like a fine cabin, we would love to see more pictures of your cabin and land.
Quote from: HoustonDave on July 31, 2011, 11:14:03 PM
That is very nice. Is that a closet or a bathroom door I see at the back wall?
Funny, Dave....I wish.....one day, one day.
Actually we are adding on.
Here's some pix of our progress (I think...still no faith in my knowledge of this format.............)
I like to build models first (because of lack of trust to my designs) and before I lay down precious cash.
(https://i.imgur.com/jnFvq6D.jpg)
Floor is done....really didn't take her that long..........
(https://i.imgur.com/h3dcwbU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BxwRKm5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sMZUfx2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5iKbi8i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/X39Ovtj.jpg)
We added a kitchen to the back.
(https://i.imgur.com/C4wq9TL.jpg)
Will close it in this month
Whew, tired now, need a nap..........
very cool!!
Just a really nice build, we appreciate you sharing it with us. Does look very warm :)
good job.
jeff
Quote from: MountainDon on July 31, 2011, 10:52:22 PM
w* Gary. Looks nice a warm and cozy in there.
Hey Don
Thanks for the welcome.
You are the reason I chose to join.
I hope to glean some of your knowledge as the wife and I continue our adventure.
As a matter of fact, there is a carbonated drink out there that does aid in tapping the font of your wisdom...
(I think the original version on the right is much more befitting.....)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/mtndon.jpg)
If this gets me in trouble right off the bat, then Admin, please remove my rendition of a great soda
Happy trails
Gary O'
[cool] rofl
Good photoshop skills :D
OMG!!!!!!!!!! there goes the neighborhood!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
welcome Garyo d* d*
Quote from: Turkeyhunter on August 01, 2011, 05:34:29 PM
OMG!!!!!!!!!! there goes the neighborhood!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
welcome Garyo d* d*
You know it TH!
Gotta put a little Irish spice to yer southern meals........
Havin' suma that sun tea in a mason jar whilst I create windows for the new kitchen
Thanks for the welcome pard
Gary O'
Quote from: MountainDon on August 01, 2011, 10:31:21 AM
[cool] rofl
Good photoshop skills :D
Actually it's just the paint program everyone has...not puttin' cabin $ to software......
My luck, photoshop would go obsolete the same moment I bought it.
(also, a free program called 'Gimp' really enhances things)
I just made some windows out of KD SPF 2 x 2s and quite happy with the outcome.
If I'd have had a router it'd have been pretty quick work, but settled with the ol' table saw, ripping ½" deep cuts on the two sides.
Voila, scrapless wood work....not my usual style.
The plan is to use the leftover strips to secure the panes.
Will keep y'all posted on progress
Time to do a bit of staining
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/HOMEMADEWINDOWS.jpg)
right here I'd like to interject a bit of paraphrase in regard to my current thoughts on what P bucket is actually saying;
(https://i.imgur.com/CIiHxUM.jpg)
Very nice. I don't see 1x roof sheathing much anymore. I've been considering it myself with the price of rough cut pine around me. I assume the windows are single pane. Do you know how to make them double? The cabin looks like custom milled wood. Did you do it yourself?
Quote from: Squirl on August 02, 2011, 05:42:33 AM
Very nice. I don't see 1x roof sheathing much anymore. I've been considering it myself with the price of rough cut pine around me. I assume the windows are single pane. Do you know how to make them double? The cabin looks like custom milled wood. Did you do it yourself?
Hi Squirl
Ix?
Actually, all the lumber, planks, and T1-11 came from Home Dopey and other big box stores.
The roof is 2 x 6 KD SPF.
We just laid them on the 4x4s and hammered away.
Thing is, I had the roofing delivered, and didn't hand pick them myself, so there was a whole lot of wane. So much so, that I decided to sheathe w/thin OSB before we laid the tar paper.
The windows are single pane, and I briefly considered double, but it's a tiny cabin, and heating it can be done with not much more than a candle.......
I s'pose making doubles w/be easy, just cut the ½" slot on both sides.
No custom milling, just hand picked (aside from the roofing) common dimensional.
I won't soon trust big box store delivery again.
The cabin is my design, and total costs ran below $1400.
However, the doors and octo-window were craig's list finds....$30 for the window, $50 each for the doors.....unbelievable.
Thanks for asking
Hope this helps some
Keep a Fire
Gary O'
I thought they were 1x6. I guess the rafters are spaced farther than 2 ft and would require 1.5" lumber for proper framing. Oops. Interesting approach going with 4x4's.
Quote from: Squirl on August 02, 2011, 07:57:18 AM
I thought they were 1x6. I guess the rafters are spaced farther than 2 ft and would require 1.5" lumber for proper framing. Oops. Interesting approach going with 4x4's.
Yeah, I'd considered 4 x 6s but overkill due to the severe 58° roof pitch, and 2x stuff was not appealing to my eye, aesthetics play into my vanity...I like to like what I look at........
...and they are a bigger target for a nail or screw.
Was able to take some time to finish the kitchen windows.
They came together surprisingly easy.
2x2s, custom cut glass panes, 8' piano hinge, black screws, and a bit of stain.
Now, if my third measures at the cabin were correct.......
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/Leftoverstrips.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/prefit.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cornercloseup.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cornercloseup2.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/stripsarein.jpg)
While I'm posting, got a couple questions;
1) For some reason I'm not able to email admin.
Is it 'cause I'm a new guy, or is it just me?
2) Having trouble with posting a pic in my profile.
Is it 'cause I'm a new guy, or is it just me?
I did read mtdn's helpful examples in 'Profile Setup', but must have missed something.....
3 )Not readily seeing the edit button.
The title of this thread needs to be changed from 10 x 012 to 10 x 12 (012 would be a tad too tiny)
Appreciate any help
Gary O'
2. Profile picture (Avatar) can be added under your profile in the Forum Profile Information section (selected from the left sidebar menu).
3. To edit a message look for the "Modify" link which should appear at the top right of every one of your posts.
1. I'm not sure what you mean on this one. ??? Probably me being dense. d* Could you describe where/how you are trying?
PM or email me if necessary; or post here. I'll be around here till Tuesday morning, then gone again for the balance of the week. (No internet where the cabin is; actually there is but I won't pay for it. ;D
Can't wait to see the home made windows going in. Very nice.
Austin
Quote from: dablack on August 08, 2011, 08:36:02 AM
Can't wait to see the home made windows going in. Very nice.
Austin
Thanks Austin
Yeah, I can't wait either.
S/be Labor day week end.
I know I measured about three times, and even wrote it down...but fatigue (last thing I did before cabin close up) has a way of skewing the mind, and I need no help in that area.......
I left a 1/2" clearance for the placements. Usually when things go so well for me, Murphy shows me the folly of my joy by pointing out that I missed something critical.
It seems when creating something, there are extreme highs and extreme lows.
Head banging on trees, gnashing of teeth, cursing fitfully out of context because my mind exploded, and falling on the ground pounding it with my fists and kicking legs, have been a regular form of aerobic exercise (I tell myself).
I wouldn't have it any other way, however. The lessons are priceless, and help me garner high regard for the true builders and artisans.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/windowlocations.jpg)
Quote from: Tickhill on August 01, 2011, 03:42:25 AM
Welcome aboard! Looks like a fine cabin, we would love to see more pictures of your cabin and land.
Hi Tick
Thanks for the welcome...not sure how I missed your post...
Still getting acclimated to the format, and used to bells and whistles going off when someone replies.
Found out I had to join photobucket to post pix here, and joining more than one entity within, say, two years... is one too many for this ol' dawg.
...and I've got to organize my photos.
Here's a few of the property....more to come
BTW...240 mi from our cabin, so trips are carefully limited...and cherished
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/WINTERTABLE.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/TOTHEMEADOW.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/NEWMEADOW.jpg)(http://i1125.photo[img]https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/BURNSEASON.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/BURNSEASON.jpg)
Skeeters aren't too bad, but boy can they consume yer plasma.
OK, they're bad, so much so I call the place 'Mosquito Flats'
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/moquitosnotbadthisyear.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/SLASHBURNING.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/rottencampermeetscrowbar.jpg)
Some things ya just gotta have.....
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/POOHAUS-1.jpg)
Quote from: Sassy on August 01, 2011, 12:18:42 AM
w* Cute little cabin - as Don said - "looks warm & cozy in there."
There's lots of friendly & helpful people on this forum who have built some really nice cabins.
Sassy, I think you're the only one I haven't replied to....sorry for the delay, and thank you.
Yeah, I'm foraging for like cabins and experiences.
In reading thru the posts, yes, a nice clientele, nice indeed.
I hope to contribute.....
Quote from: speedfunk on August 01, 2011, 09:06:57 AM
very cool!!
Just a really nice build, we appreciate you sharing it with us. Does look very warm :)
good job.
jeff
Well kriminee, I just cruised thru one more time....
Jeff, please accept my apology for a delayed reply.
Thank you, man.
Happy Trails
Gary O'
Cute place.... nice job with those pics!
Quote from: Weasel on August 10, 2011, 07:31:11 PM
Cute place.... nice job with those pics!
Thanks Weaz
Those DSLRs sure make life easy these days........
Weren't going to, but we did zip down to the cabin this fine Labor Day weekend.
My bride and I closed in the little kitchen, and installed my homemade windows.
I am now fully re-convinced that finish work is for finish carpenters....actually any carpentry is for carpenters, but it sure is excruciatingly fun for this wood butcher....and it's a cabin for cryin' out loud (of which I did a lot of...pain and suffering...)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/measure.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/measuretwice.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/pre-homemadedoor.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/T1-11.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/widowsarein.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/what.jpg)
cool :)!
Thank you speed
Under much duress, I was able to snap a pic of my bride.
Sumpm special about warm coffee on a cool September morn', poured by your smilin' mate.
Havin' that first cup with each other is the best start of another beautiful day...can't go too wrong.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/morningjoyasegmentofanotherjoyfuldayatthecabin.jpg)
Looks good - great use of space & Hi Gary O's bride c*
I like the windows... looks good!
Thanx Weaz
BTW, I bet you have a project or two going but can't I find it......'course I can't readily find my own threads just yet...little help here..
Sassy, yes, space is a premium.
I'm tryin' to get my better half to join, but she's on quite a few forums already.
We used to do as you and Glenn (our puters are within 10 feet of each other's) but I went and got myself banished, banned to the bone. Seems I can't keep from checking the edge, and their thought police finally had had a belly full......one day I'll get up the courage to post the little spoof video my grandson and I put together that cast me from purgatory to somewhere past the seventh ring of forum hell, but I've sworn myself to a form of righteousness, so I'm now the cherub that you see today....
Here's where my mind is goin' at present;
Cedar Shakes will cover the sins of T1-11 and a better window situation, but my hand got tired
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/CUTPASTEWITHFINGERTHUMBS-1.jpg)
No dims yet, just brainurisms forming behind my eyebrows
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/ROUGHIDEAS2.jpg)
a couple extensions with a deck in between, and it may just be livable 'til the real cabin gets built...or I take a dirt nap...whichever comes first
Quote from: Gary O on September 06, 2011, 08:14:59 AM
Thanx Weaz
BTW, I bet you have a project or two going but can't I find it......'course I can't readily find my own threads just yet...little help here..
Sassy, yes, space is a premium.
I'm tryin' to get my better half to join, but she's on quite a few forums already.
We used to do as you and Glenn (our puters are within 10 feet of each other's) but I went and got myself banished, banned to the bone. Seems I can't keep from checking the edge, and their thought police finally had had a belly full......one day I'll get up the courage to post the little spoof video my grandson and I put together that cast me from purgatory to somewhere past the seventh ring of forum hell, but I've sworn myself to a form of righteousness, so I'm now the cherub that you see today....
Have you read any of Glenn's rants, lol. The main requirement we have here is courtesy & respect... seems like even when we don't agree, everybody still likes each other & gets along. Guess it's pretty unusual for a forum. John Raabe has set the mood for CP & is so gracious to let us all jabber away ;D besides being able to showcase our accomplishments [cool]
Quote from: Sassy on September 06, 2011, 05:08:25 PM
Have you read any of Glenn's rants, lol. The main requirement we have here is courtesy & respect... seems like even when we don't agree, everybody still likes each other & gets along. Guess it's pretty unusual for a forum. John Raabe has set the mood for CP & is so gracious to let us all jabber away ;D besides being able to showcase our accomplishments [cool]
Yes, it's quite unusual.....really really great, long established, memberships.
A real mix of wonderful minds. Savvy down home folk that readily offer their knowledge and concerns.
It's America at it's best, and I've enjoyed reading the many threads, Glenn leading the way, John popping in, and MTD offering technical scripture.
Quite the well rounded forum.
I tend to barge in at times, but feel well recvd...still need to be conscious of the topic, and the offering of skewed humor when people are serious..working on it..
Nice cabin, Gary. I like it..... ;D
As Sassy mentioned, it is pretty hard to get banished here. We try to keep it to PG and make all attacks impersonal.....as well as keep it pretty pleasant for the ladies...... can't afford to lose any of the harem at my age..... [ouch]
I believe wandering off topic just creates a new learning experience and defend the right of our members to stray if their mind happens to wander. I'm not one for censorship. heh
I edit myself more than anybody as I also have the crude tendencies you mentioned.. :o
........being from under a rock in Oregon.... dad says I was strained through a sock...whatever that means...... [noidea'
Anyway ... looks like you are getting the hang of it. :)
"I believe wandering off topic just creates a new learning experience and defend the right of our members to stray if their mind happens to wander. I'm not one for censorship."
Thus the long time following.
...and, yes, gotta maintain the harem........I tried to join/mix in/mingle.....alas my falsetto voice was a dead give away....and the outfits were just plain uncomfortable anyway.
Yeah, Dad, in his thoughtful, kindly way, would kneal down and say "You shouldn't really be here"......think I was four....I was ready to pack my sister's Dale Evans lunch box and head over to my pahdnah Billy's house. But Mom stepped in...still in need of somewhere to stick the business end of her enema syringe I s'pose.
I like the story they used to tell me about how I oozed outta the clay near the old septic tank...found me amongst the salamanders.........
Didn't figure the 'shouldn't be here' deal until over hearing some loud late night 'discussion' a few months before my miracle of miracles brother oozed out....however, I think his septic hatch may have been up the road a ways.............
Things get rather complicated after all that, so I just turn medium sized wood into smaller wood...never a shortage of kindling......
...and thank you for the gracious latitude.
I'll use it sparingly.
I'm one of those guys who doesn't fit in with a forum unless it runs the way I like it, Gary. Too much authoritarian meddling and I'm out of there. That pretty much follows John's guidelines and I thank him for the freedom he allows us here.
Nit-picky whining topic stickers who have to have every topic in it's own folder precisely may not agree with that, but then again, they are not here. There is a reason for that and you don't hear that much from me unless one of the rude little jerks shows up. Rudeness and flaming are for the other forums.
This is more a forum for smart-aleks and wise-akers (spelling correction offered "wind-breakers" there so I guess they can stay too)....
I'm just glad that our forum is comfortable enough that the harem will hang around. [waiting]
It does take a special kind of woman to hang out here though. Keep in mind that Considerations can carry a trucking company hiring manager across the room. :)
Halleluiah!
Salvation!
I'm home!
"Keep in mind that Considerations can carry a trucking company hiring manager across the room."
That's considerable
Knew a lady that could do the same......what a rare, wonderful, perplexing, intriguing, respect eliciting combination.
I hate gettin' carried to somewhere I hadn't planned on goin'. 'Course if you kick and scream too much, you could get dropped.....
Who's kicking and screaming.... [noidea' :)
Sometimes they like a bit of sport, but good point.
Actually, excellent point.
I did read the book, Wimin are from Venus, men are from Uranus, so I've learned a couple things..........
[ouch]
Gary, your cabin looks neat. But, I like your humor even more. Glenn is pretty funny too. I don't post much but I read a lot of the posts. I'm glad you are here.
Quote from: stricsm on September 08, 2011, 07:17:54 PM
Gary, your cabin looks neat. But, I like your humor even more. Glenn is pretty funny too. I don't post much but I read a lot of the posts. I'm glad you are here.
Well, stricsm, that is the absolute nicest thing anyone has said to me directly for a very long time.
I've been putting droll/inane stuff to black and white for years now, and the immediate reward is doing it, and chuckling a bit myself. But the true gratification is making someone's day a bit brighter. I know it's not for eveyone. But these days, we are inundated with dire, serious, tragic things, whether our own experience or just what we see on the news. If I can garner a smile somewhere, then my job is done. Not to the point of being the court jester, but a quip or two at end of day helps a bad one sometimes.
I think Glenn will concur.
I've had quite a few speaking engagements and seminars, turning subjects like a generic part numbering system for a start-up manufacturing firm into a comedy club atmosphere, but yet getting the points across. And, ya know? The important info sticks when applied with humor.
So, thank you, pard.
Happy trails (even on the rocky ones)
Gary O'
Happy trails and don't step on any road apples.....
I agree, Gary..... I guess that's why a lot of my friends call me f'n Glenn. I don't tell them - they seem to arrive at that pet name for me individually. [ouch]
stricsm, thanks for thinking I'm funny, but... Sassy tells me looks are not everything. I guess I'll just have to learn to live with it.... at least I still have my big ego.... :)
Models
OK, I seem to abhor technical jargon. Prints, drawings, specs drive me to the local watering hole, even my own sketches.
I do sketch things on quad paper, but somewhere between my frontal lobe and elbow things get a bit foggy when making connections/angles.
I've heard there are three types of learning, visual; seeing it done, written; studying technical data; and hands on; performing, doing, best in the presence of the master or instructor.
I am of the latter, without the instructor.
So I make scale models to prove out my thoughts, ripping pine to 2x, 4x, and 6x at 1/8 scale.
This is where a combination of laziness and ego make their manifestation.
I love to entertain the thought that I can create something in the realm of a cabin all by myself, but my patience is weak, succumbing to outright laziness enshrouded in the guise of saving time (and my back).
I have built sheds and cabins, no finish work, thank goodness, and have always ended up with something a bit less than I'd originally had in mind.
Mountain Don's little saying at the end of every post is missing one thing, my photo. Nothing's failed, and remains quite functional, but well, my creations fall a tad short of best.
Thus I over build.
I'm happy with our latest cabin, however.
Even though we'll be busy adding to it, I'm preparing for another. Still small, 200' initially, but I'm going for optimal yield of function within that footage, stove placement, loft design, and structure integrity.
I'm asking those in the know to critique, tear it apart, make subtle or pointed remarks, sparing no words.
I swear I won't get upsought. Just need some pointers to the skeletal framework.
Just no disparaging remarks like 'lay the saw down, Gary, and walk slowly away from the shop, any shop'.
Cause if I see that, one morning you'll be sitting on the back deck, and suddenly drop yer coffee mug in yer lap when seeing a herd of slugs stampeding across yer lawn.
Juust kidding...slugs don't stampede...at least that I can tell..., and they are a great excuse of mine for a poorly yielding garden.
Here's the model...and yes, it's the one Rob_O so shamelessly (courageously) posted in one of his threads to depict style.
OK, don't all jump in at once.
Maybe (in my always overdone vebiage) I wasn't clear. Just askin' for a little help in structure design.
Example: 'Gary, if it was me, I'd do something other than rip 28° down those beams'....and go on to say what's best (IYO).
Or, if too many things to correct: 'Gary make another model......show us all something else with which to chuckle about, you hopeless neophite....tongue outta cheek, there will be 45° braces throughout....nothing left precarious, but may go with something wider than 24"oc
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4547_1_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4547_4_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4547_2_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4624_1_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4548_4_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4548_2_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4548_1_o.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/4547_3_o.jpg)
.......any suggestions, really
I think you may want to forgo the 28 degree rip on the beams and use them flat so that the rafters don't want to slide off of them. That would then require making birdsmouths in the rafters like a normal house roof uses, but that would make them stay put rather than want to slide off.
I would go up to 4x6 posts and let the ribbon in to the side of the 4x6's for the loft support, and better insulation unless you want boars showing insied and put foam on the outside of the wall for the rustic look inside..... OK ... you know me too well... likely I'd drive 60d spikes into the posts through the ribbon for support but it seems that the way I told you would be better.
PEG or Don P. are better at this stuff than me, but I thought I would just throw a troglodyte steel guys opinion in there. [waiting]
Hey, thanks Glenn
Yeah, bird's mouth is probably 'the way', just flirting with other ways.
And 4x6s is something to consider.
The beams will remain exposed, and initial roofing w/be 2x6 T&G or cardecking.
Not terribly concerned with insulation, but foam board is something to consider.
Your 10x12 looks great! The more I look at the model for your next build, the more I like it. I had ideas of something similar where I could do one side a story and half, and add the other side at a later date.
Do you plan on starting the new build soon? If so keep us updated!
Thank you mtman
Starting 'soon' is around spring 2013
Got some stuff to do to the 10x12, so in the meantime I'm fishing for design, then make the final model.
But yes, one side first, the one story side, and I know marriage integrity is detrimental so some major post and beam considerations in that area. I'm not worried about stability as I over build, but overbuilding is expensive, and may consider building a few for others. This is (hopefully) where these pros on this site come in. Looking at the model, 24oc seems too close for the studs/beams, structurally and aesthetically, so comparing beam size for wider spacing. I know if I pm mountaindon he'll spew forth with my own kindel, so I feel pretty cozy in that regard.
I'll tell ya, creating something (anything really) is so rewarding, and I know building houses is for the pros, but a 200sf cabin is very forgiving, and I'm having a blast with it.
Thank you again, and let me know when/if you start one like it.
Cheers
So, the '10 x 10 cabin in Ontario' thread by grover (warm looking trapper cabin like place, love it) re-inspired me as to using what's around the place.....
Planning a cabin kitchen door to the new add on, but not enough wall height for standard, so gonna make one outta the 2x2s I have lying around. They are only 4', but I s/be able to use them for most of the door.
These were left from our last renter that decided to use his rent money for mental recreation instead of put a roof over his head, of which we sold our residence and moved into to renovate and save some shrinking investment dollars......now that they're all gone, I don't have to worry so about them shrinking so darn much.
Anyhoot, 'tween trips to the cabin we did a little spackle/paint to the wobbly home.
Before:
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/postrenter.jpg)
After:
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/pre-movein.jpg)
OK, more than spackle/paint, as I didn't realize that they, and I (no walk thrus for 4 yrs, and only quick drive bys) had let things get so far gone. Took a little more elbow grease to put new skins on the interior doors, all new screens and a window or two, and some siding pcs here and there...
...and the little window mount A/C unit just was not enough for them, since it was mounted on the ground for 3 or so years....yes, sarcasm...roses are so darned resiliant, whack/chop.....grow/blossom
But this is about the kitchen door to the cabin (temporary though):
Outer
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/kitchendoorinside-1.png)
interior side
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/kitchendoorouter-1.png)
wow, thats a dramatic change! nicely done.
Quote from: duncanshannon on September 28, 2011, 12:33:32 AM
wow, thats a dramatic change! nicely done.
Thank you Duncan
It's quite amazing how some scrubbing, a pressure washer (those things can cut wood) and a bit of paint brings things back...and a better color selection....
Funny thing, the wife, with some help from the kids, did the bulk of the painting, as I pride myself on doing the trim (no masking).
I was carefully stroking away with my brush edge around the storm door, noting how perfectly the line of oil based black trim laid down, holding the quart in my left hand like an artist, when I took one too many steps along the porch, the edge of the top riser meeting the center of my arch.
Enrapt in my masterpiece, my weight was already past fulcrum, casting myself down the stairs.
Ever have one of those life-passing-before-your-eyes moments?
As the paint launched out of the can, I was able to catch the majority of it with my face, thus a vain attempt at blindly grabbing the handrail was less than successful.
I employed my now patented involuntary twirl reverse summersault drop and roll technique, ending up at the bottom of the stairs, hugging the rear tire of my Wrangler in somewhat of a fetal position.
Lying there for what could have been minutes was quite comforting really, as I mentally assessed body damage.
The only thing broken was my ego.
Wife came home an hour or so later.....I'll tell her one day I s'pose
gary - you are a riot! rofl rofl
Well, the wife would probably disagree.
She keeps close tabs on my life insurance as I go on my house climbing excursions.
We had a three story 100 yr old house of a thousand projects (all at once), that beckoned hourly.
She kinda came unglued when she saw me on a low slung sand chair atop a homemade platform to compensate for the roof pitch. Hey, my knees had had it.
Too many stories to list, but the most ludicrous 'event' I can recall was when I was on a ladder (an extension ladder), but only four-five rungs up. Too lazy to move the ladder a bit, I did the one leg out and stretch the arm in the opposite direction, ballet move, to reach a stubborn trouble spot. When pulling my leg back and venturing down the ladder, I misjudged the location of the rung. In spasmodically over correcting the precarious situation, I ended up doing a full pirouette, clinging quite affectionately to my now twirling ladder. I magically stopped in mid-air, frozen, for what seemed like a three count, staring down at the top of the ol' garage, then jerked the ladder back and forth two, three, maybe four times to balance (?), twirled back, now facing the house again, and proceeded (one-two-three o'clock) down the hill, backwards.
On the way down I recalled my first puppy, my best childhood (22 Marlin) Christmas, and Marissa Morehead's cleavage.......
Aluminum ladders are light, so the marks were minimal......
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/refurb.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/refurb3-1.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/refurb2.jpg)
do you have to think about these things and make an effort to be hilarious or does it just come natrually??
another nice paint job!
unfortunately I don't have to think much about it
seems to go along with the paint
welcome to the far side of my frontal lobe, duncan
Quote from: duncanshannon on September 29, 2011, 07:21:30 PM
do you have to think about these things and make an effort to be hilarious or does it just come natrually??
Y'know, duncan, your comment piqued my mind a bit.
It truly does come quite easy for me to lay down (hopefully) comedic prose.
A key is that people, everyone, will laugh at what they are afraid of. Dire, life threatening, or just something as inane as a flatulent circumstance, presented in creative, descriptive form, will sometimes bring a chuckle. So, I apply this form to my life experiences.
My first recollection of this was when I was around 4 or 5, and my grandfather fell off (yes) a ladder, quite a ways really, in getting down from a large cherry tree.
The struggle, flailing limbs, missed attempts at salvation, grabbing a branch that snapped, and ungainly attempt to land gracefully, doubled me over for several minutes. I just could not stop. And when he looked at me, it started all over again.
Asking if he was OK during choking laughter didn't seem to help his demeanor.
Unfortunately, my work associates have to be around me for 8-12 hrs daily, but they've managed a high tolerance, even though they still try to be in very serious conversation with me....and they are my subordinates!!
Izzis a great country or what?
Had a close buddy, slight build, kinda pretty, but tougher'n a crow bar.
He'd laugh at everything (which was kinda annoying after awhile), but what I found fascinating is he'd laugh, uncontrollably, when in a bar fight, or a dangerous situation. I never asked him about it, even though once in a quiet moment, around last call, I felt the urge....one learns to not confront insanity face to face.
But yes, Duncan, humor is a tool I use, in all facets of life.
I can be dead serious when a situation presents itself, but I prefer the lighter side most times.
I hate intimidation, on either side, and when serious, folks tend to think I'm angry, and I can miss out on their true feeling about something, guess it's my mug.
Cheers
duncan
I can't leave it alone.
Went to bed thinking about what motivates a person, what gets the blood going, what 'does it' for them?
And in my introspectating mode (2 yrs and counting now), why does humor seem to remain at the top of my to do list?
It seems to be a given that whatever one dwells on becomes what makes up one's character, or at the very least, one's personality.
There's a biblical passage, 'by beholding we become changed'.
I think the context can be maintained whether a good or bad trait is nourished.
Read somewhere that our minds actually make little thought roads, and the more we visit them, the more rutted they become, ultimately getting harder to use the road less traveled. Makes sense to me.
I think the degenerate mind tends to speed down these lanes.
Actually, I've been quite successful in dealing with my OCDs without mind bending medication.
I no longer count steps, do things a certain way....in repetition.....nor need things placed or folded a certain way. Even a tiled floor is no longer a challenge to traverse.
The trick is in what one dwells on, initially.
Nut case physicians find great fascination with my babblings, but then they have their own problems.
But that's another story.........
So why is Gary so enrapt with funny?
The alternative is just so mundane and frustratingly counter productive.
Frowny, mean people, people carrying self driven agendas around in their mental satchels, business people with wry twisted senses of humor, wrapped in sarcastic ridicule, nursing their megalomaniacle egos, pressing me into their service, have saturated a good portion of my waking life. So I feel the need to combat these weapons of angst with my can of humor kryptonite. It keeps me from becoming one of them.
Attorneys, CEOs, CFOs, low people in high places, all have left the conference room shaking their heads after enduring one of my little sessions.
...And I love it so.
Now I must turn a couple of today's scheduled funeral dirge meetings into a laugh track, of which I so look forward.
Wheeeee!
We're headin' down to the cabin this weekend.
Made the door. Actually it turned in to half doors.
Turns out skinny little 2x2 spf is quite heavy when glued and screwed together.
Just gotta put on a coat or two more of stain/sealer and screw 'em onto the stud.
We're kinda getting' pumped about the trip down, even though we have colds and sound like a couple lungers.
Come to think about it, maybe we're not as pumped as I'd imagined. Maybe it's just the wheezing.
Here's my homemade door, first coat
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/HALFDOORS.jpg)
Then we'll prep the slash piles.
Last year my bride kept an eye on me when tending piles.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/SLASHTENDERHELPER.jpg)
Can't imagine all the fuss. I'm just as careful without all the baby sittin'
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/SLASHTENDER.jpg)
LOL rofl
[rofl2]
Nice door BTW
Quote from: Sassy on October 18, 2011, 02:02:10 PM
[rofl2]
Nice door BTW
Practice, for the next cabin.............
That ones gotta be bigger though. Tween me and the wife, if we continue chowing down like we're doin', we'll need to make three trips with a wheel barrow just to haul my gut and her butt around.
Funny, we made a pit stop last trip, smallish bathrooms, her rear end kept settin' off the hand dryer sensor while she was waiting for the laughing lady in the stall.
My kina woman. Still sets off my sensor too.
We just got back from a great trip to the cabin.
Installed the homemade half doors.
Went better than I'd imagined.
We did a bunch of other stuff, but I can't get over my happy at the outcome of my door saga.
I know, I know, I'm on the wrong sight...so many professionals...so many great, spectacular builds.
But this ol' wood butcher is havin' fun.
And I replaced the cobbled leg support for the stove and counter I'd put on when in an over tired state....something I keep having to learn....
Here's some pix.
Note; I bought a cheap fisheye lens, and when bringing pix up tight creates a shadow, thought it was my head, but it's not so round......Did I say cheap? $15 on ebay...I overpaid....
And, well, it may not be just the lens.................
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/Octoberrise.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/slashpile.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/cabininnardsOct2011.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/halfdoorexterior.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/halfdoorexteriorclosed.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/halfdoorexterior2.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/kitchendoorisoncrookedlegreplaced.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/halfdoorvista.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/halfdoorinteriorclosed.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/onlytheshadowknows.jpg)
abba abda abda that's all folks
Great looking door! Will be versatile being able to open only half the door if you want a nice view or breeze. Amazing how big the place looks... also like the wooden handles on the outside :)
Thanx Sassy.
Believe me, that place ain't that big. Needed to use the fisheye to keep perspective of where everything is.
I'm going to put a screendoor on for summer. Skeeters are killer there.
Hey Gary,
Love your kitchen extension. Are you going to leave the french doors between the two sections? That's a great door. Where do you find the time for all of your projects?
Most of my work next year will be finishing the interiors of our two sheds. I've got to remember to put a bookshelf in both of them and keep the bookshelf lower down, right at nose level for the grandkids.
I'm sorry we haven't connected with you on one of our trips to Portland or the coast. I would really like to see your place.
Thanks Mike.
Can't wait to rise outta bed one Dec morn and stroll over to make coffee....or rather watch the wife rise and stroll.
Beats steppin' outside and chippin' the coffee pot off the tree, after chippin' the stove open.
Yeah, keepin' the French doors where they are. Too hard to put 'em in (correctly). However, one day, who knows? I tend to get bored with things if they stay put too long.................
Hey, you got nuthin' to say. You been kickin' butt, and got 'er covered before the weather. That's big. Actually that's huge.
Hookin' up would be great.
Give us a shout next time you ponder a trip thru.
Keep a fire, Mike
I love this cabin build. I look forward to all of your funny photo presentations... Your cabin, though small, is a really cute cabin. I just came back yesterday from the Smoky Mountains. I stayed at Gatlinburg and love the "Alpine" style cabins. I think I might build one myself.
BB
Thank you BB.
Hey, if yer serious, they are actually quite easy to build...mostly wall.
Let me (us) know when you get closer to the deed.........
Keep a fire
Will do! Thanks!
Did I just say 'mostly wall'?
Musta been quite a Monday
Mostly roof....or slanted wall...depending how you look at it....inside or out
Hey mister! thats one cute little cabin ya got there.
love my kitchen.sure beats putting on all my gear to go out to the frozen out of doors and chop the ice off of everything just to try to make a pot of coffee and it sure beats having to get water that is frozen solid out of a 5 gallon jug.
cabingal3 :)
Hey my lady!! :-*;D
'Bout darn time!
Yeah, it's purty cute, and you oughta know, since ya built half of it.....
It seems MtnDon is one of the technowizards, if not thee wizard as far as getting' around the forum.
BTW, this is a real forum, with real professionals, so be sure to take a peek at all the wonderful building threads.
Welcome, my bride. w*
uh oh.i better stick to recipes and the humor sections...i am glad to be on to see what everyone is building gars.There is some pretty good places from what i have seen.
hugs cabi3 c*
w* Cabingal3! That's a pretty cute little cabin you guys have built!
thanks sassy.came on here to make sure my mister does not tell tales about me like in the recipe thread where he is implying i whack him with wooden spoons.on here telling the true story...the wifes story.lol.thanks for the welcome.cabi3
just kidding the mister.
OK OK, I confess, they're not wooden......
Alright; never been whacked...yet
Actually, she does get a bit aggravated when I sneak up from behind while she's toiling over a hot stove.......it just gets me goin', seein' my lady cooking something wonderful and all......not sure why the fuss.....smpm 'bout 3rd degee burns.....
Been that way for 42 years....seems she'd be used to it by now
Can't wait for Thanksgiving
Well, I went over the budget, and figger we can afford to scoot down to the cabin for Christmas.
My bride and I have everything we'll ever need as far as gifts go this year, and last year my gift of me was not as well received as the last three-four years. Turns out you really can get too much of a good thing. So I'm givin' my lady what she really really wants...Christmas at the cabin.
'Course the bonus, aside from the annual gift of me, will be building a fire in the snow....actually several fires....slash burn fires.
Purty darn ingenious, aey?
I'm makin' a list now;
Kerosene
Used gas last two years, and that pretty much goes FROOOOMP!, then nuthin'.
I used a mix of kerosene/gas (as MtnDon had advised) and that did much mo bettah...but I ran outta kerosene.
This year, kerosene/gas....and the coup de gras of my fire starter sticks.
I'm thinkin' a case per pile, an all I gotta do is wander/stumble from pile to pile sippin' egg nog.
List continued;
Eggnog
and sumpm for the eggnog
Coffee
and sumpm for the coffee
Two or three of those little touch lights (two for the kitchen and one for the oval office)
Buffalo blanket (for tendin' fires while sittin' an sippin')
Note to self; kill buffalo
Extra Buddy heater (noticed it's 8° down there today)
Mukluk boots (for mosey from fire to fire)
Note to self; kill mukluk
Thought ahead this year and called the neighbor down there to plow past our road....gonna be nice, just trudge a few paces from the Jeep and we are at the cabin
And....(drum roll here) we have a closed in kitchen (!!!!).
Yeah, gonna be a really good Christmas this year
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/WINTERTABLE.jpg)
Quote from: Gary O on December 03, 2011, 11:48:52 AM
I used a mix of kerosene/gas (as MtnDon had advised) and that did much mo bettah...but I ran outta kerosene.
Sub diesel for kero if it's cheaper
Oh, Don, good suggestion!
Kerosene around here rivals the price of gold.
Thank you
I always include a quart or so of used motor oil. It seems to cling the concoction to the pile a little better. The last batch I mixed I omit the used oil. And might have been a little heavy on the gas. It was a little more reactive than I like. Good thing Ellen was not with me or I would have been setting in the penalty box. :o
See, it just pays to post yer thoughts and intentions.
Used motor oil....to cling to the contents.....I've got a few milk jugs of that.
Thanks Rick
d* d* d*
I use my old motor oil too.... been out of it for a month or so so it slipped my mind I guess. Dang it; hate it when that happens d* d* d*
4 : 1 oil/diesel to gasoline , more or less.
Also never stand downhill to ignite if you have a choice. Gasoline vapors are heavy and flow downhill around your feet and knees
if you have a stump to burn out i take the chainsaw and plunge it straight down into it, turn 60 degrees and repeat, turn another 60 devrees and repeat. pour kerosene in it and light. burns from the inside and also gives a nice little fire to sit around and sip tht egg nog
Well now, I have a couple stumps that I've been scratchin' my head about......I'm gonna try that...but not this winter, hard enough to find the slash piles in the snow.
Nice tip though, CJ.
Thanks
That works, but they can smoulder through the ground for weeks. Just be aware of that; it's not too big a deal when there's lots of snow cover or when you will be onsite for a long time, or have a good supply of water to extinguish it. Been there, done that and was surprised a week later to find the stump I had "extinguished" still churning out smoke about 6 feet from the original burn site.
Yeah, that's the down side of high desert......will need to drive a pole to find in the snow next winter, but this summer can still hog it out.
yes you need to be around. its been too dry here to do any but we are getting caught up on rain now and i have about ten large stumps to do. need to get a camper tho so we can be on site.
Quote from: MtnDon on December 03, 2011, 03:07:37 PM
Also never stand downhill to ignite if you have a choice. Gasoline vapors are heavy and flow downhill around your feet and knees
Great point Don
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/snowangel.jpg)
hmm For a minute there I thought you had been eating Jerusalem Artichokes and Boston Baked Beans before you tried to light the brush pile, Gary..... [waiting]
It's been known to happen........
I have a pre-lighting intake ban list
No;
Cabbage
Beans, any
Eggs benedict
Jerusalem artichokes
Deviled eggs
Popcorn with parmesan cheese sprinkles
Pickled eggs
Tuna salad
Scramble eggs
Fiber filled cereal
Egg salad sandwich
Unfortunately, I can ingest a crow bar and turn it into a foul wind storm.
Something about gulping air when I eat.
I'm a fast eater.
I could very well have been raised by wolves, gulping down things half chewed, and quick. Used to have my brother over for dinner when he was single, and I was done with dessert by the time he had buttered his roll.
I try to be conscious of it.....
Football game
Large stainless steel bowl of popcorn
A beverage
'Think, Gary, think!'
I conscientiously take a few kernels at a time
Seconds later I'm trying to simultaneously stuff both handfuls in my mouth.
The torture is dinner at an upscale restaurant...the ones where they bring several tiny things one at a time on large white plates....those waiters just couldn't keep up.
And really, I'm OK with it all....not a problem....but today, I was innocently walking thru the grocery store when someone's lingering invisible foreign flatulent globule hit me square in the face....had my mouth open.....
looked around, wondering....whoever did it was no longer in the same aisle...
I really didn't want to know who, but what they'd ingested......had to've been outdated.
http://www.profoxracing.com/flame-retardant-carbon-underwear.html
;D ;D
Gary, that could have been a payback from above for all the times you have used the comet effect and scurried on out of there.
(https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy62/the_troglodyte/377625_2486976927105_1033120262_276.jpg)
Feel free to delete that if you want, Gary....... [ouch]
Just saw it today and thought it fit ....a few moments ago anyway.... [waiting]
rofl
Glenn, my brother, I have no delete button....on the keyboard or in the mind.
Communication is what it is...and I love it all.
Oh, and I'm (shall we say) behind in the payback dept.
However, years ago I rode the bus to work.
Inevitably, no matter where I'd sit, this skinny, enormous eared guy would sit in front of me. And every time I knew it was coming, death to any chance of adenoidal normalcy....truly the end was near...his.
He had to've had a gargantuan platter of carrion for breakfast, cause his little hushed, soundless lethal events would whup ya upside the head like none other.
Each one had a chain on it.
The bus window could not open wide enough.
It should be illegal for something like that to be invisible...........
Yeah, and I never wear white pants
Well, Gary, I consider myself to be normal and the rest of the world's digestive systems to be abnormal... [noidea'
......and I know this is nothing to brag about or be proud of, but I did once make my ex throw up.... possibly she had a weak stomach though.....
The worst thing she ever did was change messy kids diapers and may not have been used to it.... [waiting]
[rofl2] rofl [rofl2]
I've made grown men weep, and the wife wash herself, but hork chips (?), I can't say I've gone there...yet...unless self induced counts.........
One time I had this tiny office during a brief stint as a warehouse manager.
I'd just wolfed down a large taco salad.
And immediately developed this surging gurgling thing somewhere in my large intestine.
I call it pre-fart assurance syndrome.
Having a bit of human traffic near my tiny office, I closed the door.
Just me and it.
This freight forwarder sales lady darted her head in...it took just a half second. Her head snapped back like I'd just popped her with a sharp jab, shutting me back in with my sordid self.
I heard choking and gasping, and rather hurried high healed steps fading at a rapid gait....so she coulda horked......
Hork chips?........ I think it is ....Blew chunks, Gary...she blew chunks..... [waiting]
You could be right...
lap lung butter
whistle beef
blow beets
order up pavement pizza
open the cudgates
burp borscht
prepare dinner for a racist
quake one's gizzard
Replicate the chalupa
Sneeze cheese
Technicolor Yawn
lick the lumps
it all works for me
So, how's that cabin going, Gary? rofl
Cabin???!!
Oh crap, I'm on my tiny cabin thread.
Looks like a page dedicated to degeneration for sure.
Say g'night Gary
G'nite Gary. :)
I don't want to make a big deal out of this and ruin your thread, Gary. but I just have to say...
I'm working out on the road again tonight and had dinner at Denny's.
A guy was walking into the restaurant wearing white pants.
All I am saying is as he walked by, I could not stop myself from checking.... no touch.... just looked.... [waiting]
Never trust the grand slam
Quote from: Rob_O on December 05, 2011, 10:54:56 PM
Never trust the grand slam
How do you think it got that name! :D
Quote from: glenn kangiser on December 05, 2011, 10:08:50 PM
I don't want to make a big deal out of this and ruin your thread, Gary. but I just have to say...
[waiting]
Well, my brother Glenn, that is quite thoughtful of you, and would've had some credence if expressed, oh say
A DOZEN PARAGRAPHS AGO!But, n-o-o-o-o-o, since we tend to feed off each other, and get into a frenzy of netherworldy discussion, I now must contribute.
You are obviously not a man of the cloth....at least in the white raiment dept, but probably lean toward pants of camo, so are found without blemish in the eyes of the lowered.
However, I cannot say the same goes for me.
In my youth, working jobs that covered me with mud, grease and oil, a little accident was very inconsequential......'let it dry and pick it off, we've got pipe to lay, son' was the mode of the day.
But of late, in my sedentary office job, things have been a bit different. Even though I've been grandfathered in, and my wranglers are acceptable, most wear casual dress clothing, most women in nylons and heels.
Herb, our aging engineer, was the exception. If he'd be seen walkin' funny down the hall, it was just due to one of his weekly 'events'....but that's another story.
One fine morn' I was innocently typing away, having had raisin bran for breakfast, and a bit of a cough from a nagging cold.
An hour before a marathon meeting, I was touching up profound thoughts and arguments, when I gingerly leaned starboard, to relieve a bit of pressure. This procedure, coupled with an ever so slight cough, yielded something a few clicks past a prairie dog. There are moments in one's life that require astute thought process. Do I settle back in my chair with confidence that all is well, or do I rise and make my way to the oval office?
Turns out settling back into the chair was not the better option.
I made my way down the hall with quick, mincing steps, stopping in the stockroom for a plastic baggy, a large plastic baggy.
My favorite stall became my Clark Kent change booth.
Going commando was my only option.
Yes, Lois, there really is a Pooperman.
Later that evening, as my bride prepared a load of laundry, she noticed a little sumpm in my wranglers......
'Hey, sweetie, have a rough day?'
'Just the usual, dear, why do you ask?'
'Oh, no reason, except for a couple little brown coins in the crotch of your pants...'
'No worries baby....keep the change'
Before any readers shriek in disgust, those of you without ever having had spot or blemish may toss the first coin..............
hello everyone.i dont want to start my own thread cause it will just be more of the same as Gars.I am excited as we will be heading up to our woods for xmas.Just me and the mister.
I have long dreamed of being up there at xmas and us being in our cabin in the middle of a snowstorm.We have never been there in a big snow or a little snow for this matter.I have some cornish game hens i am taking to put into my little camp stove oven.I so wish we could purchase some shakes to put on our outside kitchen walls...that is if there is no snow and we can not burn all the slash piles out there.I guess he is taking the camcorder.i am scared.He is as wild with the camcorder as his mind is with words.i will have to bolt the outhouse door and put make up on and wear it every second...out of fear of being cammed in my sleep with my mouth open or the camcorder peering up in my nose.have a good day all.
been getting ready for the cabin trip.been secretly making the mister a favorite.its cranberry conserve.he loves this stuff.got it canned up and hid.gonna be a xmas gift for him at the cabin.we are opening gifts there that we have for each other.it will be so fun and it will look so good n my cabin kitchen.
(https://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/NAMMY_photos/cranberryconserve.jpg)
All i really need n our kitchen is to have the mister put in a couple of shelves under my counter top.
and that will come i am sure.Then i am taking this old catalog i got from a montgomery wards. A replica from the 1800's and i am going to tear out each paper of the sales in it and wall paper it to my kitchen walls.the mister said he has a shellac i could use to put a finish on it.I am going to tear out the pages that have old wood stove for sale and wood cook stoves and baking pans and pots and all things such as this and that is what wil be on my kitchen walls.it will look cute i think.
(https://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/NAMMY_photos/thehalfdoor011.jpg)
right now i am just happy to have shelter and not have to go outside to cook in temps like 9 degrees which is what it has been of late...
I saw Glen and Sassys zip line and told the mister this is what we need.Our pump to get water is across the way.A bit too far to go thru the snow to get water...A zip line could get us over and back pretty fast.Gar seems to like this idea.i hope we can do this one day soon.
thanks guys for the good ideas u have there and fun too. c*
:)Well did my posting for a time.will check in.just thought i would show Gars better half.hee hee hee.have a good day all.
HERE HE IS. my builder man.I look at his building skills like he is mr santy claus.
Of course i am the elf.working and digging to get the foundation going.Haul all kinds of lumbers and hold them as long as he uses his brain and i,my gopher skills-we are good. [cool]
Quote from: cabingal3 on December 09, 2011, 10:58:36 AM
been getting ready for the cabin trip.been secretly making the mister a favorite.its cranberry conserve.he loves this stuff.got it canned up and hid.gonna be a xmas gift for him at the cabin.we are opening gifts there that we have for each other.it will be so fun and it will look so good n my cabin kitchen.
(https://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/NAMMY_photos/cranberryconserve.jpg)
AHHHHHHH-HAH!!!So the mystery is revealed!
You're right, I'd never have guessed....been too long....w-a-a-a-a-y too long.....but I can still taste all the goodies in that conserve.....if I recall, there was some nuts, and some tart things (citrus sumpm) along with the cranberries and whatever other magical amalgamation that made heaven on homemade bread, toasted ......
M-M-M-M, yeah, gonna be an extra good Christmas this year.
Now don't go givin' any away....those four little jars aren't gonna get too far as it is.
UH, do you need anything from the store on my way home for the home made bread?
Here to help
(https://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/NAMMY_photos/Dutch_oven.png)
its only fair u know cause i already know u are getting me this for xmas for cabin living.heehee.
the only thing i need from the store is something on this thread u may have to pick up from the store. ;)
hee hee.hint hint.
we have a housefull this weekend mister.sorry.see u soon.
Ah, I get it....a little 'pot' (nudge nudge, wink wink)....
Wait, oh-h-h-h-h, a big pot.
A 'spyder' whyever they call them that.
Yeah, no surprises this year....just anticipation (and that's the goody to savor)
Houseful??? Do I know these people?
When will they leave, and where will I be in the meantime?
Juuuuust kidding.
Keep 'em outta my conserve!! (not kidding)
that cranberry mix looks good. i love cranberries, i grew up all around the cranberry bogs. of course my texan wife never saw one before she met me. she thought cranberries grew in the shape of a can.
Hey CJ, my southern bride was a military brat, so her culinary skills are varied.
That cranberry stuff is of the gods; raisins, oranges, peels and all, walnuts, and other mysterious delectables.
I did a little driving up in the peninsula and delivered equipment to Ocean Spray. Used to tank up on their cranberry juice right outa their processer. Nothing like the stuff in stores. Guess it's like that about all produce...southern cal citrus, Texas melons, pecans, figs.....seems seafood is the same....Loosiana shrimp, Oregon salmon....
Yeah, marryin' my southern lass has made a big man outta me.
Careful now, yours'll do the same.
Quote from: cabingal3 on December 09, 2011, 12:12:14 PM
(https://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/NAMMY_photos/SantyO2011-1.jpg)
HERE HE IS. my builder man.I look at his building skills like he is mr santy claus.
Of course i am the elf.working and digging to get the foundation going.Haul all kinds of lumbers and hold them as long as he uses his brain and i,my gopher skills-we are good. [cool]
cabingal, that's how I look at my guy & my gopher skills are pretty good, too... done my share of digging, jackhammering, de-barking, carrying, holding, cleaning, sanding, finishing... :D
We used to have to trek about 70 yards to the little powder room over-looking the valley - I got lots of exercise that year ::) It didn't have any walls, ya jist looked out over the world from our mountain ridge... that is, until Glenn mooned the California Overnight man rofl rofl You'll have to ask him about that heh heh
BTW, that cranberry stuff looks mighty tasty! Have a Merry Christmas! Don't get snowed in for too long, I need my fix of fauxtos!
Quote from: Gary O link=topic=10982.msg149086#msg149086
Yeah, marryin' my southern lass has made a big man outta me.
Careful now, yours'll do the same.
too late, im on my way back down now before i cant pass my physicals anymore.
my wifes family is all cajun and shes from groves tx. so i get a good mix, and shes a very good cook. she would love me to "DEATH" if im not carefull. it got down to high 20's the other day. this big pot of chicken n sausage gumbo and potatoe salad sure warmed me up good. i think its time for a pot of chicken dumplins now. :)
CjAl-lucky you.living in the Groves and married to a cajun gal.
i could eat some boudin right now.oh my!I awitched over to yankee foods once i got up north with my mister.sure do love to go to my sisters house in texas and get gumbo and have shrimp boils.i am trying to shoot squirels up at our woods and eat them and make my mister some hats.thats my on-going project.
where did u grow up at?? I have never seen a cranberry bog.i sure love cranberries.i just made a UK sort of cranberry pudding.steamed it and suppose to put a hard sauce on it.we never made it that far.got eaten up.sure good!
my wife grew up in goves, we live up north of there in woodville now. up in the lakes area. groves and port arthur has really gone down hill the last few years. mainly since most of the katrina refugees never left. now its all government housing down there.
i grew up in WI. There is alot of cranberries grown up around the tomah and black river falls area.
I always thought cranberries grew on bushes until I visited the Ocean Spray bogs on my route. Can't recall, but seems they were located near Raymond WA.
Sad about Port Arthur.
Looked at a mansion, all brick, servant's quarters, large pool, iron gated grounds....$280K, just out of the Griffin Park area.
That was in the 90s.
Interesting place down there.
Crawdads comin' right outta the ground.
Wonderful Cajun folk.
Just as wonderful Cajun food.
after Rita amd Ike most everything down there is destroyed. port arthur still has more abandoned buildings then occupied. Ike brought in so much water there was two houses in all of bridge city that didnt have water in them. many of them people had just finished rebuilding from rita when ike hit. all the great old food shacks around the.coast and sabine pass are out in the gulf and will never be rebuilt. my wifes uncle had a beach house on crystal beach that got washed away, im not even sure the land still exists as alot of the property was washed out to the gulf whenbthe water receded
CjAl -i went to P.A. and such a few years ago when brother past away.
i love it so down that way.I am sorry about your wifes uncles place getting washed away.
we even got some Katrina refuges clear up here in Oregon.what a terrible thing that storm was.
also missing my show-swamp people.cannt wait for the new shows to come up.hope its not been canceled.
Yeah, a few years back cabi and I were getting a line wet on the Clackamas, and ran into a couple young guys that had the strangest lure set ups I'd ever seen. Turns out they were from N'awlins...showed 'em a couple pointers for steel head...wonder if they ever caught anything.....
speaking of my bride and fishing (she loves to fish, BTW) she hooked in to her first steelie at the turn of the century.
I tell you, it did my ol' heart good to watch her tangle with that scaled mass of solid muscle. It was strippin' her line pretty good when I reached over and tightened the drag.
She had a blast landin' that sweet little hen.
This is a copy from VHS to camera from the monitor so quite grainy and voices are a tad inaudible.....
http://youtu.be/8XXr1L70npA
my wife was just about born and raised in a prow fishing for bass. shes good, beats me hands down. we are building our cabin over in ivanhoe lake community. we are right across the street from the lake.
i have a very good friend named PK who lives in WA just north of the dalles. hes a crotchety old native man. lol thats my favorite area in the country. i absolutely love driving the columbia river gourge.
Oh, there's some great bass water in The Dalles area, and salmon, and sturgeon.
If your friend is native american, then he's a very happy camper these days, as they recently opened a lot of water up in their old fishing grounds.
Yeah, the gourge drive is nice....in the summer.
he is native. hes almost like a dad or grandpa even though ive only known him a few years. hes one of the wisest people i have ever met. hes down in so cal at a cancer treatment place undergoing radiation treatments for his prostate.
i ran out to portland or idaho every week for the last two years. i stopped doing that last may and i am sticking closer to home these days. better then getting a divorce
i like watching the swamp people shows. my wife doesnt like seeing the gators killed. she likes to play with the gators, snakes, lizards and pretty much anything else i would rather shoot.
Quote from: CjAl on December 11, 2011, 08:42:22 PM
he is native. hes almost like a dad or grandpa even though ive only known him a few years. hes one of the wisest people i have ever met. hes down in so cal at a cancer treatment place undergoing radiation treatments for his prostate.
i ran out to portland or idaho every week for the last two years. i stopped doing that last may and i am sticking closer to home these days. better then getting a divorce
These days recovery chances are quite good. My boss and mentor went thru that about ten years ago. He still comes by and gives me playful grief.
Yup, livin' out of a suitcase gets old anyway. Best 18 wheeler has no sleeper.
".....simply copy the URL from the video host page address bar and paste it into the topic post here on CountryPlans............."
This phrase is driving this ignopotamus over the edge.
Got pictures, Don?....with pointy red arrows?.......and red circles?
Thing is, even rocket surgery is simple....IF YOU KNOW HOW!!!
Little help here (please)
Meanwhile, here's a couple vids we took at the cabin.......
One with me recording this beautiful bird song in hopes of a little help in identifying.....
Thing was, by the time I got the camera on the tripod, the little guy clammed up.
The other one is when we tapped an existing well with a hand pump, on the adjoining property we recently bought.
http://youtu.be/r83C6w8V_zo
http://youtu.be/exoZ12uxa5c
Those url's you posted above are strange.
For 1 thing, the way youtube is broken up ???
2. When I click on either it opens a youtube page that tells me the video is private. ???
3. But the url goes through some metamorphosis and if I copy the new url and paste it here in a message AND apply the second method of displaying a video here, then it works. Like these....
[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r83C6w8V_zo&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exoZ12uxa5c&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
But those also come up as being Private.
We need a public viewable url or link to get any further on these two examples.
Yes, I will get around to making up an illustrated "how to"
Thanks Don
I jumped in to my youtube acct and made them public
I'll fiddle with your suggestions some more.
Thanks again
Gary O'
Okay great. That made those two I entered work.
In researching how to make videos appear embedded I did run into a few YouTube videos that don't want to embed easily (using the simple method). Those do work using the alternative method. It can be confusing. More later.
just experimenting.....and the bird song I'd sure like to identify....what a happy little guy makin' everyone's morning a joy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrc1NRie4Ng
I did it Don!
Now the universe.....
Quote from: cabingal3 on December 10, 2011, 11:46:38 AM
CjAl-lucky you.living in the Groves and married to a cajun gal.
i could eat some boudin right now.oh my!I awitched over to yankee foods once i got up north with my mister.sure do love to go to my sisters house in texas and get gumbo and have shrimp boils.i am trying to shoot squirels up at our woods and eat them and make my mister some hats.thats my on-
Well I'll be dipped in gumbo and slathered in etouffee. POOOHHHEEE!! You make me hungry there gal...... I might live in the north but I think my stomach stays down there some where south of Baton Rouge near Houma and Grand Isle. All the while the music of Michael Doucette and Beausoleil, Mary Chapin Carpenter's - Down At The Twist And Shout Doug Kershaw belting out Colinda, and Dewey Balfa and Todd Balfa preform Jai Ete Au Bal plays in my mind for ten thousandth time.
Cute YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ8pk6GGr1Q&feature=related
Quote from: CjAl on December 11, 2011, 08:42:22 PM
....................................snip............................................................................
i ran out to portland or idaho every week for the last two years. i stopped doing that last may and i am sticking closer to home these days. better then getting a divorce
If you ran I 84 Idaho to Portland you seen me somewhere along the way. I was running one of those big long trains there between Huntington and Baker City. You most likely were wondering why the HELL don't that @#%$@$###$ dim those $%$#%$%#$ lights. You ever took fuel or food or tried to sleep in LaGrande at the Flying J you heard me blowing for the crossings.
Gary, Go Here (http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=11405.msg149221#msg149221)
Well, geez, Don, I bet even I can follow that.
Once I get home, I'll follow those cookie crumbs to fruition....after Rick's ear worms loosen their grip on what's left of my mind....
Thank you Mr Wizard.
i havent stopped in lagrand since i got food poisoning about 5 years back
I know LaGrande is quite a bit further east of Antelope, but maybe you got some residual left overs from the Bhagwan....just kiddin'...kinda.
Had an Aunt that lived in The Dalles...kinda high up in The Thousand Friends of Oregon...got poisoned by the Rajneeshees. Darn near died. She's gone now, but really had some stories.
Up till then my policy was let bhagwans be bhagwans........
Got a solid laugh out of catching up on this thread. hilarious. rofl [toilet]
Quote from: duncanshannon on December 17, 2011, 09:27:52 AM
Got a solid laugh out of catching up on this thread. hilarious. rofl [toilet]
here for ya duncan
Headin' to the cabin this Friday, to slash burn and celebrate Christmas.......thing is, no snow yet, just a dusting here and there.
Sure hopin' the weather will change 'tween now and then, but the 10 day fcst is not buoying my hopes much........
Quote from: Gary O on December 12, 2011, 07:58:11 PM
I know LaGrande is quite a bit further east of Antelope, but maybe you got some residual left overs from the Bhagwan....just kiddin'...kinda.
Had an Aunt that lived in The Dalles...kinda high up in The Thousand Friends of Oregon...got poisoned by the Rajneeshees. Darn near died. She's gone now, but really had some stories.
Up till then my policy was let bhagwans be bhagwans........
Was that part of the Safeway salad bar poisoning they were suspected of, or one of the restaurants? One of my favs was when the Bhagwan would have everyone herded into the gym for the weekly orgy. He said it really cut down on the tensions of life, and of the time or so it was reported in the news papers.
Quote from: rick91351 on December 17, 2011, 02:44:15 PM
.........One of my favs was when the Bhagwan would have everyone herded into the gym for the weekly orgy. He said it really cut down on the tensions of life,...........
See? He wasn't all bad.....
Headin' to the cabin for Christmas in a couple days.
Took a peek at the trip check cam this morn.
Oh Mommy!!! [shocked]
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/TRIPCAMATMP231.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/K-K-K-K-KOLD.jpg)
This road cam near the cabin is quite handy.
Aside from scattered darkness at 5:23 AM, it's –9.8° F....boy, sure hope it doesn't get to 10 below.........
OK, aside from freezing our butts off, I'm beginning to be concerned with freezing our butts on.
Petroleum jelly or WD40 on the toilet seat could beget an event all it's own, so considering bungee loops from the outhouse ceiling....
Couple questions;
Does poop stick to squirrel fur?
How much is too much antifreeze in eggnog?
Will definitely throw another dog on the fire.
So glad our kitchen is inside this year.
Merry Christmas all!!!
Well be back with pix Monday....keep a fire
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/SantyO2011.jpg)
We're back.
The pass was clear, and very little snow. But we did manage to do a little burning. No wind.
In watching the weather, we prepared for -12°F, the wife even crocheted a neat face saver, but the lowest it got was 10°.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/cold.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/temp.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/fire.jpg)
We did make a video, but it was more an instructional one on 'how to not make a video'
However, here's some pix;
Cornish game hens, taters, carrots, asparagus, and (slaver) cranberry conserve
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/cabindinner.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/friends.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/milletcones.jpg)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/christmaseveatthecabin.jpg)
Our mornings were fresh, our days were productive, and our evenings were cozy and snug...read the book 'The Last American Man'.......I don't recommend it, but the quietude got me through it, entertaining in places.
We played rummy until we got rummy, sipped some nog, and talked of cabin plans, which included installing a wood strove. However, our buddy heater did it's job quite well.
Oh, cabi got a bead on a fat squirrel, but she hasn't spent time to acquaint herself with her artillery just yet, so Mr tree rat will see another summer, but may have trouble reproducing......yeah, she got close.............
Glad you were able to have a great time up there.
Thanks Don.
I did end up using straight diesel on the three piles we managed to burn.
I'm now a believer.
Once we get some serious snow, we'll attack with that german concoction.
QuoteI'm now a believer.
... and you still have your eyebrows, etc. :)
:D Gary, your cabin looks wonderfully toasty! Thanks for the pictures -- and glad your trip was made safely! (Uneventful is a good adjective, especially when applied to car and plane and train trips!)
If, on the other hand, one is sky-diving . . . . :) well, maybe "uneventful" would be great there, as well!
The baclava -- no, wait, it's balaclava, right? -- looks very warm and cozy!
Have a great and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
:)
carroll
PS And now, of course, someone will start (hee, hee!) using the phrase "Keep your butt on!"
Yes, a balaclava, but we did sample some baklava during this season.
Boy, that stuff is rich!
Not totally uneventful, however.
I like to entertain my little woman with my ignition/combustion show.
I had this gaggle of fire inducing elixirs, a small can of gas/oil, 5 gal of diesel, one gal of kerosene, and one gal of just plain ol' gas.
12 boxes of fire starter sticks, an extended BBQ lighter, two boxes of matches, and a blowtorch.
Thing is, during the commencement of one of my little shows, the wind kicked up, so both the wife and I let out a little gasp.
Then everything was sequestered to the burn barrel with screen.
I do love that diesel. Just make a little hole in the bottom of the pile, squirt a tad bit of gas in there, add a cup of diesel, a deftly struck match and presto, fire that'll consume.
Savin' my old oil for the big burns once the snows get serious.
And yes, Don, my brows are still intact, so I still rival Breshnev's twin caterpillars and Rooney's mesquite outgrowths...did have some close calls with straight gas last year, however...........
Ahh yes the holidays at the cabin! I can't wait until Friday when we head to ours to spend New Years there!!!
Quote from: OlJarhead on December 27, 2011, 09:33:01 AM
Ahh yes the holidays at the cabin! I can't wait until Friday when we head to ours to spend New Years there!!!
Now see? That's enjoyin' the event full circle....anticipation.
Bring back pix, big fella
Quote from: Gary O on December 27, 2011, 09:05:56 AM
And yes, Don, my brows are still intact, so I still rival Breshnev's twin caterpillars and Rooney's mesquite outgrowths...did have some close calls with straight gas last year, however...........
[waiting] :-X n* Not cool Gary. I had a very good friend, one that lost his life doing similar. Don't do that, 'nuff said there.
Then I had a friend Marv my old hunting and fishing buddy. He left us and took a job in the woods being a logger in northern California and southwest Oregon back when they could harvest trees. He came back for elk hunting one year. He had taken to wearing his logging togs. Most notable Can't Bust'm Pants that the loggers just take a knife and cut to length. Then of course they fray and get raggy around the hem line. This also back in my pre AA days and a bunch of us were standing / sitting around the fire in elk camp. We were all all telling lies and expounding on the truths of life, and passing around a bottle of Black Velvet. Marv and his frayed leg Can't Bust'm Paints got too close to the fire. They caught, Marv was kind'a cute running off to the creek screaming in some unknown Pentecostal tongue and sort of like one of them Hawaiian fire dancers dudes whose routine went south. He had the nerve to curse us for laughing at him when he returned. Man I never knew Marv could run that fast, sort of like "Run Forest run!".
c*
Quote from: Gary O on December 27, 2011, 10:35:19 AM
Now see? That's enjoyin' the event full circle....anticipation.
Bring back pix, big fella
Oh I will! Hoping to take some new Gongs to hang up for the 'shootin' fun too!
I had an experience this weekend as well. My nephew stood up on the bucket of a front end loader to pour gasoline on the top of a large brush pile. He threw a lit piece of cloth on top of the pile then I heard a loud 'poof'. I looked back and everything was alright - except that my nephew and bobcat skid steer was far too close to the fire. It started out raging and didn't stop. I learned that we need to think safety.... even if we're just in the backyard piddling around!!! d* d* :( ;D
Quote from: Gary O on December 12, 2011, 11:16:52 AM
just experimenting.....and the bird song I'd sure like to identify....what a happy little guy makin' everyone's morning a joy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrc1NRie4Ng
I did it Don!
Now the universe.....
Townsend's Solitaire is the best I can do. You can listen to one here:
http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/townsends_solitaire\
I'm not great at bird songs yet, especially birds I'm unfamiliar with (like the Solitaire), but I thought I sounded somewhat similar to an American Robin so I started looking at the Thrush family. Could be something totally different though.
Alan
'Not cool Gary. I had a very good friend, one that lost his life doing similar. Don't do that, 'nuff said there.'
A learnin' experience in youth (if you survive) is worth a lifetime....a long one.
No worries, Rick. I know gas and it's dangers, and fumes and their extremely dangerous traits.
Nothin' to play with.
The 'close calls' last year were not really close...just seemed to be to the wife.
Thanks for the concern, pard.
I do enjoy playin' with my bride's mind, however.
I like to say 'whoa, that was sumpm' right after a flare up.
Had a friend that charged for rides in his hot air balloon. His favorite remark after safely landing was 'whew, never done that before', just to make sure people got their money's worth.
Now, Weasel, take that nephew and ask him how close he came to the end, a miserable one.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
'Townsend's Solitaire is the best I can do. You can listen to one here:'
By God, Alan, if that's not it, it's mighty close!
Seems the one I recorded has a bit more warble, but could be it's sex or even maybe attitude.
Yeah, I too considered the Robin, but been around them too much to be a strong consideration.
Sure is a sweet, happy sound. For me, it rivals the Western Meadowlark, of which is my all time fave.
Thank you, Alan, very much.
OK, I listened to both recordings three times, with the speaker up to my good ear.
I think you nailed it, Alan!
Quote from: Weasel on December 27, 2011, 06:51:11 PM
I had an experience this weekend as well. My nephew stood up on the bucket of a front end loader to pour gasoline on the top of a large brush pile. He threw a lit piece of cloth on top of the pile then I heard a loud 'poof'. I looked back and everything was alright - except that my nephew and bobcat skid steer was far too close to the fire. It started out raging and didn't stop. I learned that we need to think safety.... even if we're just in the backyard piddling around!!! d* d* :( ;D
Did the same here this fall BUT after my son poured about 1=1/2 gal of deisel onto the 12' high pile I backed the tractor and lowered him down and moved away. There was no way I could have moved that fast once the pile started to burn. We had planned on roasting hot dogs but it was nearly 3 hours before we could even get close to do that. ;D
OK, you guys are throwing a scare into me.
When someone uses the terms pour and fuel in the same sentence with pile, the hairs on the back of my neck tend to rise up and look around.
ONE-AND-A-HALF GALLONS!!
John, ya did good in backing off.
Even diesel, in large amounts, will combust (blow ya ta kingdom come)....sometimes it just needs to warm up first.....sometimes not.
Every experience with slash burning is a bit unique. Humidity, wind direction and velocity are never quite the same.
Considering the pile was well out of harm's way, out in a field, I'd be employing a flaming arrow 50 paces away............but then I just like flaming arrows...........
Keep a fire (safe)
Better safe than sorry. Wasn't too much concerned with the surrounding area as I situated the pile in the corner of my hay field. Green stubble doesn't burn well or fast. Yeah that was a good bit of deisel but given the size of the pile I think it was about right.
Reminds me of my younger years of operating a 450 track loader on the farm. Had pushed a large pile of brush. trees and etc.. into a trench silo to burn. Wasn't around when they lit it off but they should have never used gasoline for that job. Blowed the guy about 20 feet from the edge and ended up with no eyebrows or arm hair. Seems that the trench silo held the fumes at the bottom. Bad idea. d*
Few pic's
(https://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/redoverfarm/hightop/farm/100_4666-1.jpg)
(https://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/redoverfarm/hightop/farm/100_4667-1.jpg)
Notice the extension of ignition tool ;D
(https://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/redoverfarm/hightop/farm/100_4677-1.jpg)
Didn't take long to develope into a inferno. Fun while it lasted which was three days smoltering.
(https://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/redoverfarm/hightop/farm/100_4673-1.jpg)
Nice
as my grandpappy used to say...'Now that's a fire!'
Guy around here burned himself really bad quite a few years back, permanent facial scarring. Dumped gas from a can onto a wood pile and then walked well away from the pile before lighting something and throwing it into the pile for ignition. Seems like it should have been plenty safe. Unfortunately he walked away down a slight grade and the fumes, being heavier than air, followed him and the gas can. Something I never would have even thought about until I heard the story.
Alan
A gallon of fuel (4 parts diesel to 1 part gas) does about 6 fire starts for me unless the wood is very wet. With the tarps and tar paper coverings it's usually dry, or at least there is usually enough dry material to get it going. Once ablaze even the newly cut green stuff burns up.
I start the fire on the downhill side as a rule but make a dribble trail off to the side and uphill if I can. Then light that.
I had a cousin lose most of his sight in one eye about 50 years ago by mishandling of gasoline.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/roadcam.jpg)
Road cam a few mi from he cabin
Low percentage of precip next ten days
Where's the fricking snow?
I've got slash piles to burn
Took some days off.
Had too.
We got back from four days at our cabin yesterday.
It was wonderful.
However
I, trying to cool down from high anxieties of typical production demands, shifted gears to obsessing over our 2nd trip to the cabin this winter.
The trip thru the pass loomed.
Winter storm warnings screamed at me on the trip check.
Managers, lead people, owners were pumping questions my direction all Friday. I feigned hearing the same queries I've heard for over 20 years.
Packed the Jeep and off we went Saturday morn.
Approx half way there I let out a shreik. Wife lurched awake thinking I'd done my usual auto pilot trick, going off road to break up the monotony and thrust my head to consciousness on the roll bar. Silly girl. I'd just remembered I left the tire chains on the table saw, where I'd placed all the related tools we'd possibly need this trip.
Which produced another smaller shriek...tools, and gloves.....
We now own a 2nd set of chains.....and a 6th or 7th slip joint plier (since I have one in the Jeep tool box anyway).
I've noticed total recall is more post op than pre op these days.
Anyhoo, they're a nice set of chains, and my bride should have little trouble installing them.
Got thru the pass with little banter. Wife has a hard time jabbering while chewing her nails to the quick.
The little woman even praised my ability to stay on what may have been our side of the road on the way down the mountain.
I was kinda surprised on a couple things too.
It appears that humans can hold their mouths wide open, and deeply exhale, yet have no audible noise, for at least the exact space of time and distance a Jeep can slide sideways and stay upright.
The other surprise was how considerably the little woman's eyes could leave their sockets, once she could unlock and turn her head from the passenger's vantage point of being the first down the hill.
Fueled up in Oakridge.
All will be well now, cause Burt, our neighbor ¾ mi from the cabin will have faithfully plowed the road for us this year. Good ol' Burt. Faithfull Burt. What a neat ol' guy. Friendly sort, salt of the earth.
160 mi later we pulled off the hiway and onto the gravel road to our cabin. Good ol' Burt, smooth glide over the thin layer of frozen snow, his gate was shut, so we'd settle up with him later. Round the corner past Greg's place, 'wonder how close ol' Burt got to the cabin?'
A wall of snow looms just past Greg's place.
That %^&#$*#*&% Burt didn't touch his plow to our road! I'm gonna tear his hands off and stick his own fingers in every available orifice of his gnarly self! (once he opens his gate....).
OK, we got our exercise.
Read somewhere here that water is heavy. It gets heavier when you are an old fat man, along with diesel, and ice chests crammed with munchies (our munchies are now apples and weird fruit, BTW) and real food....in two feet of snow.
Happily, the snow was frozen, and ice chests can be towed.
Once settled, and normal shallow breathing resumed after my bride pulled the paddles off my chest, we commenced to enjoy ourselves.
Truly enjoy.
We burned slash piles, ate, slept, all hours of the days and nights, ate, read books. Got through McMurtry's 2nd book of his triad of memoirs, some TC Boyle short stories, and trekked thru the woods with the grace of small buffalo, taking a few pics.
The evening stroll to the outhouse was an adventure, since the tundra like pumice held two solid feet of ice with a sprinkling of snow giving one the feeling of false stability. The thought of a possible large hungry cat, hiding behind the picnic table, licking his lips over what appeared like two diseased overgrown fowl, lurching their way from one building to another, would occur during these treks.
Oh, it did snow while we were there. Been awhile since being in the company of nature's fresh stuff, nice, quiet.
Here's some pix
burn baby burn
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zslashburn2012.jpg)
Next time we'll bring something to put in it....
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zfeb2012birdfeeder.jpg)
more dead falls, wheeee
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zfeb2012snow.jpg)
outhouse sentry waiting to scare the bejesus out of the little woman
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zfeb2012outhousegeezer.jpg)
sapling mocking my back
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zfeb2012bentsapling.jpg)
personal post card possibilities
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zfeb2012.jpg)
I enjoyed your trip. ;D
Glad ya did, John.
It was a great break in the action.
A winter wonderland, Gary. Nice to see you set fires and kept your eyebrows and beard intact. ;D
Thanx Carla.
Yeah, the brows are still able to pick up a good FM station and raise the garage door......
The was a lot of ice this time, and some unseasonably warm weather in the day, so some melting and wet wood, even under the tarps.
But we did get the major piles taken care of.
As always, a rich experience.
Cheers
well all.here is my version.
we got packed up.i am all excited to get going.i wanted to leave friday nite but poor mister was so tired from working so hard all week.
so all is good.Sat.morning i am awake at five in the morning dressed and waiting for lite to come so i can get to loading up the jeep.
He is sort of funny about how things are loaded and was not too happy to see i had a small bookcase filled with books i was hauling to the cabin.and i always haul lots more canned foods.
then we had a big propane tank and two ice chests filled and 3-five gallon containers of water...plus lots of clothes and bags of this and that.Important thing like my huge tote bag of crocheting.
I was leary about going thru the mountains cause i heard there was gonna be bad weather up in the Williamette pass.
we are going along and the mister says he forgot the tire chains.we drove all over these silly strip malls where there is nothing anyone needs...we finally found a walmart and there is where he found them.yay.
so we get up into the mts...
funny man! i was never scared but I can sure say this fellow drove thru like a pro...but i was ready to jump out at the first slide off the mountain.every man for himself in those circumstances.
hee hee.
so we make it thru and its still snowing and after so many years of marriage-we both think the same thing at the same time.i said "what if it is snowing to beat the band and Burt has not plowed?"
Gar had been thinking the very same thing at the very same time...still! silly us,trusting Burt who has never come thru even once .
so we get to our road and sort of slip and slide thru to the road where our cabin is and sure enough...burt the poo poo head had not plowed.i could see why though....some trees were blocking our road.
Praise the lord that the snow was so hard and iced over that we could haul all our stuff.i was wishing i was not such a hard head and wish i had listened to gar about not taking all those books with us.
so we each hauled.i took an ice chest and got it to the cabin and emptied it out and headed back with an empty ice chest so i could fill all my books in the ice chest.
we did it.it was all good.got lots of exercise which is one of the many reasons we want to live out in the woods in the first place.
It was so pretty out there.
we had so much fun.
I have never been to our woods when there was actually alot of snow falling.So Gar said Baby-its snowing.we both were at the cabin door peeking out and sure enough.We woke up to such beauty.It was wonderful.
we put up some stick um l.e.d. lites in the outhouse.
we put some up in our kitchen.
we got alot of burning done.
and we both read two books each.it was so great.
Gar says this summer is the summer of building on our living room.whee.then the wood stove is next.
We packed up and left.Closed up the little cabin in the woods for a while
then we stopped at a little cafe i had wanted to go to for a long time.The fellow came to take our order.If there is biscuits and gravy anywhere,on any menu-i am getting that.
so there was the half order and the whole order.I asked how big.the fellow said...oh trucker size.well since i was not sure cause alot of times someone will say big and its not.so i did order the trucker size figuring i could take half home.oh mister..mister funny man says-WHEW!!WHAT A WOMAN.MORE MAN THAN ME..
well,snicker.i was mad at him for saying that and said thanks gar.
hee hee.so then i get my biscuits and it was two biscuits halfed with gravy.Gars still talking to the fellow about how i will probably not eat all of it and will only eat half.
i was like oh my word!! that was the only hic up we had...but after i was not mad anymore...it was pretty funny.
so we just dream and plan and talk of the woods and our cabin building adventure .
it was a wonderful time...except for the cafe thingy.lol
Sounds like you all had a good visit.
I got the last of my woods piles burned in a quick 8" snow we had this week. Having done the scorched beard, loose hair and toboggan melted to the head trick before I use a 20 lb propane cylinder with a weedburner torch to touch off my piles. Due to Glenn keeping homeland security interested I'll just say that in my youth we used to enjoy anything that employed fire. The pile was generally burning upon re entry.
I made the mistake of ordering the loggers breakfast one morning on the way to the job. First she brought out a couple of plates with eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and a couple of biscuits. It was a healthy meal but I was up to the task. I was winning and on my 3rd or 4th cup of coffee when the waitress comes out with a plate completely smothered in biscuits and gravy, I dunno, logger's dessert. I was raised right and am respectful of all those biscuits who gave up their lives and it is just too far to send them to Biafrica. It was about fourteen oclock before work began that day.
Don...hee hee.those are some pretty funny stories.hee hee.
There is never enough water or gastrointestinal space after a 'good' breakfast
'burning upon re entry'... ;D rofl...n-i-c-e
I really enjoyed reading your thread. It was cool to see everything that you have been working on up to this point. Quite a few funny guys on here as well. I dont know what its all about but burning slash piles is so fun to do. Even when someone else is doing the burning. Good to see you had a successful trip.
Thanks Brian
Yeah, there's a ton of funny, crazy and quite talented people here.
Slash burning; Making old men into little boys since strike anywhere matches.
Chain saws; Mechanized running with scissors
Welcome to the fray. w*
Gary I always enjoy reading your commentary and I really like the looks of your cabin. I'm actually pondering bilding something similar myself in the near future. I looked back at your in progress pictures and tried to see what kind of foundation you used, but could not find what I was looking for. Could you enlighten me?
Hi MG, and welcome to the finest little forum I've ever known. w*
OK, foundation
You really need to chat with the Mountain Don's of the world.
I've built a few cabins and sheds, and mostly without convention.
My foundations have been a bit prehistoric.
I consol myself that the pioneers did what I did, and that's level the site as much as possible and place either rocks or concrete blocks where they need to go. Placing treated skids on top. Then planks across them.
The key is leveling the ground, which involves lots of grubbing around digging and tamping and digging and tamping until my back knots up into one tight ball of spasming muscle, declaring levelness to be quite acceptable.
Curse words have been summa my best tools.
Give me a few hours and I'll go home and root thru my files for pics and grins.
BRB
OK MG, I'm gonna do what I swore I wouldn't.
I put a little book on the shelves a year or so ago, but I won't tell you the name of it without permission of the wonderful folks that have kept this site pure.
It's a journal about our cabin building experience.
And since it hasn't flourished, but rather has suffered some sorta incurable Irish book blight along with a rapidly degenerative advertising disorder, I suppose an excerpt or two won't cause me much of a financial set back since the publishers should be quite disenchanted with me by now anyway......
Here goes;
The foundation is, as always, critical. If you don't start out with a square, true base, you'll fight angles all the way thru your building endeavor.
In my opinion, a small cabin, shed, shop is somewhat forgiving when it comes to authentic foundation construction. This opinion, coupled with my inexperience with actual foundation fundamentals, brings me to my next journal entry.
There are many books, pamphlets, and magazines that help with very detailed info and illustrations, showing how to pour the cement, true the pilings for post and beam, and build your foundation the correct way.
I build mine bass ackwards. I'd like to think the early pioneers built theirs as mine. I determine how many cement blocks I'll need, then find the four corners of my structure. I then commence to level the ground (not the piling or post). It saves me some time, but is very tedious, as I place a straight board on the exterior blocks and find level with (what else) a level (a long one), tamp, dig, tamp, add soil, tamp, dig, etc..... until all blocks are even with each other.
To square the layout, I measure the diagonal corners. They've got to measure the same. Use your imagination as to how you get there. The inside blocks also need to be square, true and level. It's a bit easier, but grunt work just the same. Some may argue that tamped dirt is not stable enough.
That might be right, but of the six small buildings I've built, none have had problems with level over time. Things will and can settle, but a well placed shim can correct any of these issues. I've never had to shim, and doors still shut/open without ado.
The cement blocks I use are nothing fancy, just 12 x 6 x 4 inches deep.
Saving expense while yielding a solid structure is the goal.
Now you can lay the floor boards.
Some insist on tongue and groove. Its unnecessary expense if you buy kiln dried #2 or better.
Two weeks later, Fourth of July weekend, we bought timbers and blocks, loaded up our tiny trailer with tools, building materials, and mosquito spray, and headed back to the property, both of us with set jaws that we'd get the site leveled and the blocks and beams laid. No camping. Too much stuff and prep just to get going. We were going to stay on task.
We'd seen some interesting A frame motel units 15 miles north of the property. So I looked 'em up on the web. Reasonable too ($42/night).
The people were very nice on the phone, so I reserved two nights.
On the way down, we talked about the movie 'Vacancy'...........got the creeps, and quit talking for awhile.
We dropped the trailer and contents at the property, fed the mosquitoes and went back to the motel. I studied their 'A' construction. Loved how they were made, but without any side walls they were not very efficient space wise and (I suppose) heat wise all going to the ceiling 20 some feet up.
OK the place was not clean, septic odor was present, and over all was lacking up keep. But the new managers were on task. Time will tell.
The kitchen and bathroom was designed as an afterthought. You had to move the tiny fridge to get into the silverware drawer, and you had to squat down to use the shower (of which they provided a plastic stool, nice touch).
The sunset shining thru the tiny bathroom window did give the knotty pine walls a golden cast.
I mentioned where we were staying to the guy at the mini mart, "Oh, yeah, crouching showers", he recalled. It was as though we were on the well known long abandoned set of a combined martial arts/gay western/porn movie..... "Crouching, Broke Back, Golden Showers".
The following morning we gulped down something (can't remember), swilled coffee, grabbed the water jug, and headed out, determined to complete our task of the day.
We grunted, thought, strained, and sat in 20 minute intervals (then we got out of the Jeep...just kidding). It took us a good part of the morning and a bit of the afternoon, but when we ceased toiling, the timbers and blocks were level, true and plum.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/zflooring.png)
end of excerpt
Now that you've wasted a large portion of your youth reading this, please proceed to the pros here.
A gaggle of them are waiting to take your call.
cheers, and again, welcome
Gary O'
(Don, there's a cure for that minor Tourette facial tic you just now developed...I wrote a book about it)
I know the one you mean Gary. Go into your profile, on the forum profile sub page. Scroll down under the member map and insert a link to it in the Website URL field. Name the link something in the Website title field. That's a 100% fine and nobody can complain about "advertising" from there. Any member can view your profile after they have made at least 1 topic posting. I'm also pretty sure anyone, member or guest, can see and click on the (http://countryplans.com/smf/Themes/default/images/www_sm.gif) that appears in the sidebar under you avatar and personal info, beside any message you have posted.
Go for it...
OK, 'went for it' and while there, finished the sports page, then woke my leg back up and did sumpm, and tested that by dragging my cursor over what I think might possibly be the 'URL' and pasted that to the empty rectangular space where I find things (no, not my brain, I never find anything worth finding there) and entered...it went to the sales site.
Howevah, I don't think that's what you were trying to show me, Don.....Geez I hate being old and ignorant...and technically lazy................where's my grandson when I need him?.......wait, the wife just made cookies
Care to try what I entered? Please?
It works Mt O'Dxxxxxx
Wul ahll buee, shazam...a minor miracle.
Thanks big D
You da grandpappy
H'okay, we're gonna head down to the cabin in a couple weeks, and one'a the tasks will be puttin' on cedar shakes on the kitchen addition.
I've put on shakes once, and it turned out pretty good, but there was no power at that cabin, and vague recollection creates a vision of angst and colorful verbiage giving the aura around me a uniquely blue haze.
Anybody work with cedar shakes?
The bundles I have are of a thin nature, and they are mostly for aesthetics....and I s'pose weather protection, although it rains there at the same rate of the Mojave desert.....
Oh, and I have this pneumatic one inch crown stapler that I'm starin' at real hard for stapling on these tiny boards from hell., or is there a better way?
...and, no, there won't be any lath strips....unless someone chides me into it.
I love (hate) cedar shakes so.
Hi Gary O,
I have been lurking here for a little while and thought I'd come out of hiding to tell you how impressed I am with the model you built (pictured in reply #46 of this thread) for your next cabin. Since you first posted that last fall, I am wondering if you've altered the design any or if you still feel this is what you'll build next. I am a true beginner and I think I would have to simplify a bit from what you've designed but one of the things I love about it is the irregular roof line and the height.
I have a couple of questions for you if you don't mind:
1) Do you feel that 4x4s will support that 16' feet of height in the center or would you end up with 6x6s for the center posts?
2) Would you be thinking of a post and pier foundation for this, or what kind of foundation were you thinking of?
And I guess one more question while I'm feeling brave: what do you or others think of using steel connectors to join the 4x4s? I am thinking of ones like the Big Boy steel-timber connectors from a site I found by searching for "steel shed frames" because I guess I feel like they could give me some of the time and simplicity benefits of a kit without the price and lack of customization from a complete kit.
Anyway thanks so much for the inspiration and it's especially nice to know that someone who dislikes schematics as I do can build something nonetheless!
Hey, shnnnh, hope you hang around a bit.
I'll answer your questions in the morn'.
Lotsa festivities today, and the pillowtop beckons.
Cheers,
Gary O'
Okee Dokee
Coffee is hot, birds are chirpin', and the humans will be arriving here at the factory in a few minutes.
shnnnh
Design
Nothing's changed in my mind, as far as style.
Essentially, it's two lean-tos put together. I like the thought of seeing the sun come up of a morning when waking from slumber in the loft.
Thing is, I also want to step out onto a deck from the loft, sip a cup of coffee, and perhaps nosh on a piece of raisin toast......and that's where my ethereal day dream ends.
Because I'll need more height and a bit more width to do that.
But, for sure (at present) I want to keep the roof design.
Center posts
6 x 6 center posts can't hurt, and would be better to look at instead of spindly 4 x 4s....and I s'pose would help to keep the snow load from making the ceiling a center piece.
Foundation
Post and beam is pert near the only acceptable style of foundation in my neck of the woods.
Unstable 'soil'.
Pumice.
Bracketing
Steel brackets are good if used correctly.
I'm kinda big on aesthetics, so if I use them, they'll be painted black. However, I tend to go the total wood route and put 45° braces everywhere..........
Thing is, shnnnh, if you're building something smallish, like 200 sf or less, then building is quite forgivable with logic applied..
But....if you're considering something bigger, or taller than one floor, it's best to get input from the pros here.
Once provoked, they will offer up wonderful advice, much akin to a soft ice cream machine gone berserk.
Their input will keep your dream from becoming a nightmare.
Know this, you're chatting with an old gent that is given to much flailing of arms, out of context sputtering curses....in tongues of unknown origin, panic filled cat sailing across the shop making weird spitting sounds mid air, and splaying myself on the ground, pounding and licking with fists and feet.
It's not becoming, but it's become a large part of my repertoire.
When I get closer to the build, I'll be on this site like a plague, with a thousand questions.
Hope I answered some questions.
Oh, and don't be shy.
Welcome to the most wonderful thing you'll ever do, and the site that will get you there.
Keep a fire
Gary O'
Thanks so much for the replies and most of all for the encouragement!
I was thinking that if you wanted both the loft and a deck you could always flatten out the shorter roof in your model to make a flat deck and raise the roof line to match the taller side but cover it with corrugated Polycarbonate to let the light in. You could roll right out of bed and onto the deck...just don't roll too far ;)
Hmmm, not bad thoughts.......
Where is the "like" button? This is greatly entertaining. Will your co-author be participating in your book? I will need to aquire a copy when you are done and put it next to 'Roughing It'.
Did you ever get your water tested Gary?
Hey HP
Water test
Still on my to-do list
I did get one'a those kits from Home Dopey but it was mysteriously missing the bacteria test, so I've gotta restart my search for that.
So far, no weird diarrhea like symptoms...just yer normal every day type diarrhea.
Book
Yeah, I've been on a writing jag lately, bangin' out book number two.
I've been so filled with deeply profound thoughts of deep profundity that I've just gotta share...and, yeah, the term 'filled' is quite appropriate.
Actually book number two is somewhat of an appropriate description as I'm strongly considering the title 'Does a Boy Poop in the Woods'.
This winter I banged out several short stories of my childhood recollections.
I ran some excerpts by the kids (16-22 yrs) of today, and they thought it a bit of a hoot (reading about kids being outside...with no electronics), so my newly formed bulbous ego has prodded me forward.
Both fingers tappin' away
Stoppin', lookin' up (profound things are on the ceiling)
Tappin,
manically gigglin' my own ass off
The work is in the compilation dept.
Gawd I hate that.
Anyhoot, glad you enjoyed, HP.
Cheers
Gary O'
So, we whipped down to the cabin to do a little shake, rattle and roll.
OK, we didn't whip. There's really no way to 'whip' 250 miles...on land....in a Jeep.....with a trailer......and two lithe aging geriatric boomers.
But once there, we set to work.
Yup, right away.
And our first task really didn't take that long...about fifteen minutes of flailing of limbs and screaming of lungs I'd say, but it was quite the relief to actually get ourselves out of the Jeep and stretch those jaws of life that keep following me around.
(My hind end you say.....yeah, my hind end)
OK, seriously folks, my lady and I have a regimen.
We both get a good nap in on the way down, mine usually occurs somewhere half way into the mind numbing 100 miles of straight away on I-5....quite refreshing, really. I s'pose the wife should drive during those times.
Once at the cabin, we both start unloading the Jeep, trailer, and the cabin.
'The cabin you say'
Yeah, the cabin.
The cabin that's full of tools, and a large generator on a four wheel cart. Our lovely generator of which we dubbed 'Jenny'.
Good ol' Jenny.
And what a trickster she is.
She always likes to confuse me by having her fuel valve in the wrong position. Yeah, the fuel valve. The one that is like none other, because it is right smack on an 'L' connector, so if you're a weary geezer like myself, you won't remember if you turned the sucker off or not, and the pointy thing that's present on all vavles but this one, no matter which way you turn it is not in parallel with anything. Yeah, that valve.
So, I crank my ever loving guts out (and that's a lot of guts), and all she does is chuckle a bit. Then after oh, say, five minutes, five minutes of wheezing, wheezing from twenty minutes of my wonderfully aerobic rope pulling ceremony, a light goes on. Yeah, a light. Because during my flailing of arms, and when I might have possibly done a little Irish jig on little Jenny, the valve may have been moved, and the little darling fired up, thus turning on the lights, yeah the lights.
Shake, rattle and roll you say.
Well, we put on some shakes.
Then we noticed the rattling of our bones as we rolled into bed.
But
That wasn't the fun part.
The fun part you say.
Yeah, the fun part.
We loaded up a second table saw that I'd picked up from a friend for just $100. One'a those Craftsman jobs, thats worth, oh say, $50 at HF.
Full of glee that we now had something that would produce a straight cut, I picked up my guts and plugged 'er in.
It ran, or rather turned maybe two revolutions.
There was a flash.
A flash you say.
Yeah, a flash.
My brain flashed onto page seventeen of Jenny's manual, showing that if anyone was dumb enough to think a generator of her size would have enough juice to handle the power surge of a table saw, surely that same person would forget the air compressor.
So, yeah, after unrolling the airlines, and setting up the staplers, I noticed they were curiously missing the female connectors that I was ready to deftly press their male connectors into. The ones that happened to be connected to Ol' Pancake the air compressor....that happened to still be in the corner of my shop, just a whippy 250 miles north.
It suddenly dawned on me that I was giving my wife a wonderful example of an incredulous look, holding two empty male connectors.....(don't even go there)....
The jaunt to town really didn't take that long, what with a tidy round trip of 120 miles....and a $169 new Ol' Pancake, and whatever the #$%&!+&# price of gas jumped to (I no longer look), we were ready to shake.
Turns out I needed a small crane to install the shakes.
A crane you say.
Yeah, a crane,
and some sorta belly bag that I could lie face down on, so my lovely wife could hoist me up and down to the level of row I was on, and she'd apply oxygen whenever I had to bend over for, say, ten seconds....yeah, a crane.
Truly, the trip was, as usual, a grand distraction, and we can't wait to go again.
Here's what we managed to accomplish in spite of ourselves;
you may recall it looked like this...no?...well it did.
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/cabin/halfdoorexterior.jpg)
And now, presto (presto meaning 'MOTHER OF GOD, MY BACK!!!)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/DSC_0508.jpg)
and finally, this is a photo of my Jeep....one nanosecond after a chickadee had remarkably landed on the limb in the foreground there and flitted away....turns out, my hand is much slower than my eye.....
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/DSC_0510.jpg)
Well, it's now approaching eleven pm, and I'm going to soak.
Soak you say
Yeah, soak.
Soak in a tub of scotch....OK, it's water, but the Irish Spring does give it a kick.
G'Nite chy'all
I know that dance well! However I learned a trick to defeat the jenny ;) Just don't shut the valve off EVER!
I also know the 'Chainsaw Dance'. DO you? It's easy, forget that you need to close the choke after it coughs and then dance around the yard like a yahoo (pronounced Yay Who in my neck of the woods) trying to pull start the stupid chainsaw 700 and 50 THOUSAND times....all the while singing the 'children close your ears because grandpa is trying to start his chainsaw' song...know that one? It goes kinda like this $#@%! $#@(*&## and a $@@$%!! too!
Glad you got the shakes up though and just think, now you can leave one new old pancake at the cabin to keep jenny happy ;)
Cheers
Erik
And that, Mr Erik, is a comforting thought.
I will never forget ol' Pancake anymore.
However, there is the possibility of the two getting together one day in the near future.
I have learned to make a checklist for such things.
The key is filling out the haves and needs right before leaving camp.
I know the list is around here somewhere........
Yes, the chain saw dance.
I darn near dislocated both shoulders on an old McCulloch.
Turns out, if you leave gas in 'em all winter, the diaphragm gets all stiff and persnickety.
Huh, don't touch the valve, ever........that may just work!
Happy trails, Pard
Quote from: Gary O on May 29, 2012, 04:15:14 PM
Yes, the chain saw dance.
I darn near dislocated both shoulders on an old McCulloch.
Turns out, if you leave gas in 'em all winter, the diaphragm gets all stiff and persnickety.
Was that one of those Mc's that had about the same displacement as a 49 Chevy pickup and the bar was sort of shaped aero-dynamic like a squished beaver tail? Then they vibrated so bad your hands went to sleep and stayed there for about three days and nine hours 57 minutes. At the end of the day you might have fell a tree and a half, you would have finished that fall but the gas boiling because what seemed to be a two gallon tank was located on top of the cylinder head. It was a patented design to cook the gas to well done then vapor lock which was okay because your thumb was wore out pushing on the damn oiler button. Or another model? ???
Cussing at its finest cultured by chainsaws. Ever notice when its 110 degrees and you just give it a little tug and it is off and running. But a nice 50 degree day just a little breeze, jerk jerk huff huff puff puff. Dirty rotten no good #$%#$%^$%%)#$)%#$@@#$%_ and ^%%^((^#+@# the chain %$($%(@_ spark plug fouled and !@($(@+@#$ how old is this @@_#$ fuel.
Just got back from the ranch, I would like to report that the big Echo #%$)#$$!+# and the #$)@#+#@#$. Then late afternoon ZOOOMMM ROOOOOARRRAOOORRRRR. Back had already given out and the day was done or so I thought.............. :D
d* :) ::) c*
LMOA I love it -- so I'm NOT the only one!
Funny thing though, these new fangled Husky's and Stihl's have a very effective choke so I'm not doing that dance too often any more ;) But man of man have I done that! Cussing and swearing and hopping all over the place with my wife laughing in the back ground saying something like "Look kids, he's doing the chain saw dance again"!
rofl [rofl2]
Old McCulloch owners, unite!
There's gotta be a clinic for us somewhere..........
Quote from: OlJarhead on June 01, 2012, 08:25:57 AM
d* :) ::) c*
LMOA I love it -- so I'm NOT the only one!
Funny thing though, these new fangled Husky's and Stihl's have a very effective choke so I'm not doing that dance too often any more ;) But man of man have I done that! Cussing and swearing and hopping all over the place with my wife laughing in the back ground saying something like "Look kids, he's doing the chain saw dance again"!
My Echo is really not that bad to start. I think it is just imprinted that it is going to be from the Mc era. For myself - small engines be it lawn mower, chain saw, weed-eater or my tank sprayer are something I just do not do it well. I would love to take a small engine repair class or sit on the corner of some ones work bench.
One thing about the Echo; it will stay running when I set it down. The old Homelite had a force-field around it. It would sit there idling until you reached down to pick it up and you broke the plane. The invisible field would be broken and it would quit. Six inch away quit, every stinking time.
I still like that saw better than any I have run. With a 24 inch bar it just felt good and balanced well for me. Parts for it are like almost impossible. The jug is almost wore out. I still run it once in a while.
The Echo will saw better the the Homelite. But when I started using it I could not find the kill switch with my thumb. Little tiny mico toggle. I kid my friend that owns the saw shop that sold it to me . I tell him it is hard to start. At least it gets you limbered up to use the saw. ;) He says it should start first couple pulls bring it in and he will adjust it. I tell him I will take it like it is. At least when I get it fired up it runs. That's way more than the Homelite ever would do! Most likely the reason it has lasted me twenty years. Hard to wear something out when it is sits in your shop or sits under my work bench waiting for me to take it in. He counters with something like the reason that has lasted that long is the good care they in the saw shop have given it. Way better care than I ever did. We have known each other for about thirty five years so you can say stuff like that..............
Sorry for the thread drift Gary......
'Thread drift'? 'Thread drift'?
Have you seen suma these pages?
So, wunna my projects today was to build a back seat for my grandmonkeys, since we're gonna haul their narrow behinds down to the cabin with us this time.
The Wrangler has been a back seat virgin up to now.
Had some 2x2 and thin ply, so, banged out the bench seat.
Simple frame but needed a bit of a slant for the back rest.
22.5° was right on, and made the little pressure brace behind perfect at 45° on one end and 22.5° on the other (both positive settings on the miter saw).
I can tell I'm getting' slow of foot, 'cause this took a good portion of the morning, aside from trimming the grapes, mowing, trimming the lawn, and watching cabi make sun tea....and watching the tea get some color....
I've still gotta drill a slot for the seat belts and make a couple cup holders...monkeys get thirsty too.
Made the frame and kitted the components
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/seatcomponents.jpg)
Just need a slot for the seat belts...and need to steal the lawn chair cushions...I may cut the back rest down a bit...looks a tad high
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/seatreadyforcushion.jpg)
Can't wait for the 250 mile 'are we there yet' conversation
:D. i would have given you one if you were close.
let me know what the ticket says when you get pulled over ;D
HAH... Now I will shorten the back rest for sure....
Luckily, there are very few cops in that neck-o-the-woods.
When they were smaller, I just strapped their booster seats to the floor.
no idea how many times i have wanted to rip the rear seat out of my tj. even folded up it takes up a huge portion of a limited space.
Yeah, bought mine new in '99. They called it a 'stripper', no extras, no radio, no nothing, and no back seat.
I put a tool box back there...love it.
It has a hasp lock.
Funny thing, my Wrangler is a rag top, so I don't leave any of my hope diamonds in it.
I drilled a couple slots in the bottom of the tool box and ran a strap thru the loops in the floor.
I'd love to catch some jerk pulling his guts out trying lift that box.
Quote from: Gary O on July 15, 2012, 11:46:30 AM
Yeah, bought mine new in '99. They called it a 'stripper', no extras, no radio, no nothing, and no back seat.
snip................................................................................
Are you says you bought a stripper in '99' Bragging? ??? no extras, no tunes, no nothing, and no back seat.................. ??? Lap dance?? ...... maybe a cheap hotel room...... What is a stripper with out tunes!! ??? Oh well back to the thread drift.......... :-[ Sorry -- Wow --- I'm embarrassed you would post something such as that..... I'm embarrassed I bit. Well back to the padded room..... Sorry play time is over....
I can not remember the brand but I had a very nice rear seat and storage box combination when I had my CJ5. A heavy gauge steel box was the base, it bolted thru the floor. The hinged lid was lockable. The rear seat attached to the lid with a quick disconnect system. The seat would still fold and flip forward or could be removed. The steel storage box stayed and kept the contents safe and dry. ... Might have been a Bestop product, but not sure.
sounds like a tuffy box
There's some great product on the market for Jeeps, all makes.
The one item that eludes me is a good console...so I made one.
It is a first go at it, and the next one w/be with pvc. Still, it was under $10.....
and notice the time worn 'character' of the driver's seat
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/console1.jpg)
and the seat for the monkey pods (sans cushion)
(https://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l588/Garyo424/monkeypodready.jpg)
i am surprised you have belts back there.
it is 4 wheel drive isnt it? i never knew they made two wheel drive jeeps untill i moved to TX
I had the belts from the time I strapped 'em to their booster seats a few years back.
Just secured them to the floor loops.
Oh, it's 4wd...huh, never knew there were options for Wranglers
We're back from the cabin.
Only our 2nd trip this year.
One word.....
anguish
It's a 250 mi (400 km) trip.
Half way there the aroma of burning motor oil woke me up.
Popped the hood.
The engine is throwing oil.
Not good.
Dip stick reads full.
Huh.
I drive 30 mi.
Stop, recheck.
Now there's a fizzing pinhole leak in the radiator housing.
Hoookaaay.
Turn around?
....what would MacGyver do?
He would build a helicopter out of the fan, generator, flashlight battery, and discarded garbage can he found on the roadside and proceed to the cabin.
There's no garbage can.
But
I have a plan
I drive 300 yards and order a senior coffee at McDonalds.....
......and leave a rather hefty McPoop in their McToilet.
So, I'm not MacGyver.....but all obstacles of thought blockage have been removed.
Now I can proceed to the auto parts store and get some trusty JB Weld, 2 gal of antifreeze, and 8 quarts of oil.
We ARE going to the cabin.
But first, we ARE getting over the mountain.
But, even before that, I AM going to wait for the JB Weld to cure.
So we set there and finish off the bag of grapes we were going to munch on at the cabin.
Of course it's dark, and after finishing off the grapes, I realize that the fingers that so gingerly popped grapes in my hirsute gaping yap are the same ones that so delicately kneaded the piece of JB Weld to activate the catalyst.
The flashlight is securely packed deep under food, clothing, books, guns, tools, and toilet paper.
So, my MacGyver like instincts direct me to the head lights, reading the caution statement in the MSDS about washing your hands immediately after kneading the JB Weld, and something in so many words about kissing yer hind end g'bye if you are stupid enough to eat grapes right after using.
Actually, it reads:
INGESTION:
INGESTION CAN CAUSE GASTROINTESTINAL IRRITATION, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA.
Whew, nothing abnormal.
We get to the cabin.
All is well.......with the exception of the niggling feeling of angst about the trip home.
I steeled my mind to think happy thoughts....
What would Bob Ross do?
He'd paint happy trees.......
and take six more hits, then paint happy clouds.
I have nothing to hit but the bed.
....and read, and flop, and moan, and read.
Pancakes and sausage in the morn, at the picnic table....good coffee.
(happy thoughts)
We create huge slash piles for burning after the 2nd snow.
That night the moon, the 2nd full moon this month, a blue one, shows the way without flashlight as me and my fair lady walk the meadow....I stepped in only three gofer holes.
(happy holes)
Truly, once there, it was, as always, a wonderful, much needed, experience.
And........, we made it back.
...and it only took two quarts of oil.
My Wrangler now sits in the carport, mocking me, dripping oil from every surface of the engine compartment, onto two of my fair lady's cookie sheets, while I contemplate happy thoughts of steam cleaning said compartment tomorrow to find the source of true happiness.......and a good brazer....day after tomorrow.
So, tonight, as we rest, and both peck away at our keyboards.......watching (no kidding) 'Survivor Man', my lady will occasionally look fondly in my direction, with a tender look of admiration ('My MacGyver'), and I.....I return the look of affection ('My Lady of the cabin and kitchen') with the happy thought that she'll be even that much more fonder (grammar check) when she finds out I'm pre oiling her cookie sheets.
Happy thoughts, my lady, happy thoughts.
Gary, glad to hear you and the missus made it home safely. A couple of weeks ago my old pickup did me the favor of springing a leak two days before I left town to go up to the cabin. Both of the bottom radiator hoses turned to sieves at the same time. Turns out they were original hoses. My bad I should have changed them years ago. All three radiator hoses are now new.
We are headed your way next summer so I can bicycle more of the coast highway. I hope we get a chance to meet up.
Gary, I do admire your writing!
Quote from: MikeOnBike on September 02, 2012, 11:13:27 PM
Gary, glad to hear you and the missus made it home safely. A couple of weeks ago my old pickup did me the favor of springing a leak two days before I left town to go up to the cabin. Both of the bottom radiator hoses turned to sieves at the same time. Turns out they were original hoses. My bad I should have changed them years ago. All three radiator hoses are now new.
We are headed your way next summer so I can bicycle more of the coast highway. I hope we get a chance to meet up.
Hey Mike
Sometimes you so remind me of me.
Not the bike riding part.
I'm a Lazy Boy purist.
Got the Olympic bronze medal of Flat Buttitis to prove it.
No, I mean the sincere promise to do something you've (I've) been meaning to do.
And I know you will, same as changing out the hoses......
Now, I've gotta clean out the gutters since the rainy season is coming and the wisteria has wrapped themselves several times around the drain pipes...three years ago
....but, wait, there's a replay of a rerun of the 1988 Olympics showing curling as a demonstration event, and the kid on the US team is runnin' around draped with the flag, lookin' for his dad, right after they won the fourth draw....... THIS...is gonna be good.
See you next summer, Mike
(serious, really, no I mean it, I'm not kiddin' this time.....)
Quote from: Weasel on September 03, 2012, 04:08:43 AM
Gary, I do admire your writing!
I gotta say, Weez........ I do too.
OK OK, smartassedness aside.
I am getting a bit serious with it, and have compiled close to 300 pages of my next book.
I say 'compiled'.
It's a compile on the floor of my den.
I lost heart after finding out that I'd copied three chapters twice....OK, so I've got 217 pages in my compile.
Oh, and I lost heart again a few days ago when I'd taken a search adventure on the web and a virus ogre jumped out and snatched every consarn file I had...even some basic programs.
'Restore' brought back the programs, but those files are somewhere on the outskirts of 'Poof'ville.
S-o-o-o-o, will restart writing and compiling this winter, and the 183 pages should be back up to a respectable 300 or more by spring....and will put any words of depth and profundity (that seem to stream forth from both fingertips) onto a zip drive.....and keep that in my gun cabinet of which the key is......
I thought about writing one once [waiting] maybe I ought to read one first........ :D
Stay after it Gary! [cool]
You will
We will
Now, if technology would just take a breather...
Gary,
Started reading this thread and before I got to the bottom thought, this guy should write professionally (or maybe you do)! I'm an avid reader and loved your writing :) Why a book? although that would be grat. Why not some short stories? or perhaps an article for a magazine. Your writing style is so humorous, yet something that I could relate to (if familiar with chainsaws, jeeps or whatever-lol) Anyway, just my opinion. What is your book about? BTW, I've had that happen to me too! Lost my article draft which was soooo discouraging. Only happened once though! :-\ Always save everything (often) now on both my hard drive and a jump drive (love those). Thanks for an entertaining story. Cathy ;D
Oops that's great not grat ::)
Hey Gary,
I too enjoy writing, but most of mine has been in the realm of politics. Where I learned that you can get some serious attention much faster than you had hoped! I tend to write on the factual, reasoning, and objective... which is good and all, but I still have not learned to combine it with humor and a humorous motif like you have. You are really good at that. The humorous motif is what makes the writing interesting and enjoyable - despite the content. That's an area in which I have a lot of room to grow.
I mean how do you tell people they are crazy while making them smile at the same time? ???
(http://cyprischat.org/wp-content/uploads/confused.jpg)
Quote from: mountainlady1956 on September 03, 2012, 08:25:51 PM
Gary,
Started reading this thread and before I got to the bottom thought, this guy should write professionally (or maybe you do)! I'm an avid reader and loved your writing :) Why a book? although that would be grat. Why not some short stories? or perhaps an article for a magazine. Your writing style is so humorous, yet something that I could relate to (if familiar with chainsaws, jeeps or whatever-lol) Anyway, just my opinion. What is your book about? BTW, I've had that happen to me too! Lost my article draft which was soooo discouraging. Only happened once though! :-\ Always save everything (often) now on both my hard drive and a jump drive (love those). Thanks for an entertaining story. Cathy ;D
Hi Cathy
Thank you (really).
And, my book is just short stories.
A compilation of sorts.
Life in the '50s and '60s.
I tried to write a novel, and it started out quite intriguing.....to myself (my little test)......for a hand full of pages....then I fell asleep.
Dang, books are tough.
But short stories?
Spurts of inane thoughts put to prose?
I can do that.
At least I have fun with it.
Glad some others do too.
Cheers
And welcome, BTW.
Oh, and your 2nd post edit.
You don't have to do that here.
I've edited stuff I'd written months before.
Just one of the many reasons this forum rocks.
Again, thank you.
Quote from: Weasel on September 03, 2012, 08:38:37 PM
Hey Gary,
I too enjoy writing, but most of mine has been in the realm of politics. Where I learned that you can get some serious attention much faster than you had hoped! I tend to write on the factual, reasoning, and objective... which is good and all, but I still have not learned to combine it with humor and a humorous motif like you have. You are really good at that. The humorous motif is what makes the writing interesting and enjoyable - despite the content. That's an area in which I have a lot of room to grow.
I mean how do you tell people they are crazy while making them smile at the same time? ???
(http://cyprischat.org/wp-content/uploads/confused.jpg)
Hey Barry
Yeah, humor.
It has it's place.
...and there's lots of places it shouldn't go....I've learned.
Turned a funeral into a comedy club atmosphere once....easy crowd....emotional roller coaster......then started getting invited to speak at funerals....then things got weird.
I'd like to read suma yer stuff.
PM me if you'd like.
cheers
Tired
Three days
600 miles
Finicky generator
Cobbled building thought patterns
Add on is near completion
However, I did manage to get my lady so pissed, she called me a 'grouchy ol' buzzard'....it only took 44 years. I laughed so hard, pumice dust blew outta my nose.
Just wunna those times where your hands are full, and you want her to move the 4x4 to the left....'TO THE LEFT....LEFT!'....your head is bobbing to your left.....her right.
Anyhoot, we worked sun up to sun down for two days.
But in between those two days, I filled 'jenny' (the generator) with gas...two cycle mixed gas.
She ran, but she didn't like it.
She didn't like it for, oh, say, 2 hrs.
I shut 'er down for lunch.
After that she wouldn't budge.
Turned, had spark, fresh oil.
I didn't know what was the matter with her....until I poured a bit of gas in a tuna can.
I usually don't make two cycle mix in a 5 gal can....usually.
I usually label the can 'TWO CYLCE MIX'......usually.
So I wrung my hands until she drained out.
Examined the gas in the other can.
It's not bluish.
Only took, oh, say, 35-785 pulls to get her to respond.
I've discovered a new workout machine....
Was I ever so happy, ever so appreciative; listening to her hum, as I sat by the fire, gasping and heaving....there may have been some sobbing and maniacal laughter. It's my usual procedure, post gnashing of teeth, falling on and kicking and beating the ground with my feet and fists.
Tired
Here's some pix
gonna make the door and add more windows next trip (Mountain Don...I know....just don't say anything right now, you grouchy ol' buzzard....it's just a tiny cabin...that has grown to 200sf).....and....I....I....love you... (we'll get close, mighty mighty close when I attempt to build the main house).
Oh, I'm also giving strong thoughts toward solar energy, so I've got some reading to do in this here forum.
Tired
It just hit me.
I'm beyond tired now, so this grouchy ol' buzzard is gonna forage for some road kill.
Cheers
(http://i.imgur.com/QFpcDKt.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4Y96xQN.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4V8ls9v.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ImKYEIP.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4tL3mxs.jpg)
looks good!
Very nice :) Great place to have coffee I bet!
Thanx guys.
Yes, coffee....Irish coffee seems to lube the joints just right.
Yes it sure does ;)
Well, we completed our last addition to the cabin. It's as complete as it's gonna get, since it's now at 198 sq feet.
The windows were afterthought craig's list finds, but we're happy with them, even though they are heavy. I know, I dropped one on my foot.
The swelling and purple hue will recede.
Next the bedroom (120 sf lean-to style) a few feet away.
Then the utility/wash/sauna facitlity a few feet from the kitchen.
Then
Serious building (to code) of the shop
Then
The main house (this is where I'll be camped on this site like a plague)
Here's some pix;
worky worky worky
(http://i.imgur.com/gDkrn8S.jpg)
whistle while you worky
(http://i.imgur.com/S5Plnbn.jpg)
custom cut (skinny) shakes are fitting....happy
(http://i.imgur.com/2mDZFXX.jpg)
bend, grunt, staple
(http://i.imgur.com/vzoxHSo.jpg)
four day's work
(http://i.imgur.com/Cqmoai9.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/cBg5Q0f.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/sRxkH8V.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7jTC3YP.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/KtiAGof.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/IyfCn0P.jpg)
Gary I would imagine that being a A-frame style dweller that it is good to be able to stand up completely near the side of a room. ;D Nice job.
Yessir
That's the very reason I went with the four foot side walls
Thank you, John
Cool! I love the shakes
Yeah, OJ, I love (hate) 'em too.
Matter of fact, I get the shakes ever time I think of 'em.
Gary, the new addition looks great! Love the shingles. We talked about that for our place but we would have had to go with the fiber cement because of the fire danger and that would just have blown the budget.
I'm like you. As I start to get the sheds finished up this year my mind has started to wander to an actual cabin build.
Quote from: MikeOnBike on May 29, 2013, 03:33:53 PMI'm like you. As I start to get the sheds finished up this year my mind has started to wander to an actual cabin build.
Exactly.
My wife calls me a 'crazy man' when we are out there.
I can't stop.
It's a horribly wonderful infliction.
I forget to stop and eat.
'Hey, crazy man, hungry?'
'Uh, yeah, guess so, hand me that board.'
God seems to know me, and turns the lights down around 9pm this time of year.
I've always pushed myself, but I've never pushed on a guy so old before........
"I've always pushed myself, but I've never pushed on a guy so old before........"
I've discovered that this is not a gender specific truism...I think I'm working hard until I talk with my 40 year old son....he just laughs..damn. :-\
just chiming in to add those shakes look GREAT!! that is all ....you may continue building cool stuff [cool]
No it's not gender specific.
My lady gets goin' on sumpm, and I can't stop her.
She discovered her natural ability to use the stapler............I need more staples.
Yeah, considerations, our kids wonder what's takin' us so long.
I tell 'em it's love.
Love of a painless night.
Speed, you got nuthin' ta say.
I've seen summa yer stuff
(but thank you)
So, we escaped to the cabin for a few days before Christmas.
Slash pile burning season.
Got tired of waitin' for the snow to pile up.
I did my usual of pouring a cup of diesel at the bottom of the pile and tossing on a lit chunk of paper.
Usually it takes several tries to get the pile going.
Usually
This time, this time the pile went WHOOOSH!...game on.
Immediate thought;
Do our best to at least to save the cabin.
No kiddin'.
The slash fire rose to approx. 15 feet in what seemed seconds.
My lovely wife started tossing snow and water on it like mad.
I, in my X-man/MacGyver action mode, immediately looked on......I may have had my mouth open.
My mind drifted to the incident of winter 2012....and 2011, 2010, 2009...aaaand the spectacle of 1976, where I discovered combustible garbage could fly.
I finally went into action, piling snow around the perimeter, then sitting back down to enjoy the fire/wife show.
Fire is a funny thing. Not haha funny, but oddly determined funny.
One slash burn season we'd poured gallons and gallons of water on the coals...no smoke, just black swill, swimming bits of tiny pieces of charcoal.
We went to bed that night, all tucked in our cabin bed, rather happy, and congratulating each other on our accomplishments.
As our custom, one of us wakes up around midnight....to pee.
I awoke to my lady shaking the crap outta me, shrieking something in my good ear.
LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!!
The once drowned pile was ablaze.
Huh
So, this year, my lady would not go to bed.
Every 15-20 minutes she'd go out and drown the piles.
Did this both nights we were there.
I know this because I'd occasionally pat the pillow beside me, remarking how soft she felt.
Man, was she ever grouchy on the way home.
But, heheh, slept most the way back...so did she.
(http://i.imgur.com/FtPhDwN.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/wHQvULv.jpg)
But Hey Gary that one is gone. On to the next one. ;) Make sure you take your wife. HeHe
I remember burning a rather large no not large but huge one a couple of years ago. The idea was to roast hotdogs by the fire. Well we did have hot dogs but they were cooked at the house.; It was 6 hours before we could get close enough even with a 10 foot weiner stick.
We've had fire get into a root system and burn way back some 5 or 6 feet. One of the giveaways was the slight curl of smoke and another was the very heavy scent of hot pine pitch. Fun to watch the fires though.
Yeah, the root system. Always a worry for me there. I think you have the same (pumice) soil as we do, if I recall correctly.
John, I think I remember seeing pics of that bonfire.
That was a doozy.
Quote from: Gary O on December 27, 2013, 08:09:54 PM
Yeah, the root system. Always a worry for me there. I think you have the same (pumice) soil as we do, if I recall correctly.
We are sitting on a big pile of 1.4 million year old Ignimbrite. Our volcano is called extinct by some but dormant by many other scientists. Front row seat is what we are sitting on. ;D There are hot springs and areas where the sulfur smell is very strong.
We're 15 mi due east of Crater Lake (Mt Mazama).
It's just a pup at approx. 8000 yrs old.
Lotza geothermal in our area...at least that's what I tell my wife and distant neighbors (damn sriracha anyway)
Quote from: MountainDon on December 27, 2013, 09:35:46 PM
We are sitting on a big pile of 1.4 million year old Ignimbrite. Our volcano is called extinct by some but dormant by many other scientists. Front row seat is what we are sitting on. ;D There are hot springs and areas where the sulfur smell is very strong.
The bright side of it MD you don't have to go very far for pumice to scour the pots and pans.....
Quote from: Gary O on December 27, 2013, 09:59:35 PM
We're 15 mi due east of Crater Lake (Mt Mazama).
It's just a pup at approx. 8000 yrs old.
Lotza geothermal in our area...at least that's what I tell my wife and distant neighbors (damn sriracha anyway)
15 miles due east :o WOW it is a good thing you were not sitting there 8500 years ago. Mazama is actually a series of volcanoes and most likely a long way from being dormant. I hate to bring this up Gary but if it blows like it could again it most likely would mess up your .... retirement villa c*
Well now, that'd sure beat the inevitable long walk and bap over the head when I finally lose that lone marble rattling around my skull.
Thanks for giving me something to look forward to.
Hope it's on the 4th of July
Quote from: Gary O on December 28, 2013, 08:36:35 AM
Well now, that'd sure beat the inevitable long walk and bap over the head when I finally lose that lone marble rattling around my skull.
Thanks for giving me something to look forward to.
Hope it's on the 4th of July
WOW what a neat 4th of July party...... Dad there is going to be fireworks like never seen before...... Here mom and dad sit right here. We well be back... Were going to run to the store, should not be long..... ;)
We live on a shield volcano. We have quite a drift that comes down through here. Suspect a large lava tube as well. Places you can feel a breeze blowing out of a couple outcroppings when you climb up on them. There are a couple of ferns that grow on them that take advantage of humid cool breeze. They are just small insignificant outcroppings. However there are no hot springs or thermal features. Being a closet geologist or is that armchair geologist? ??? That can mean a couple things. :-\ One there is no venting of thermal energy so pressure is building. Or it is really DOA - done finished. Coughed up its last hairball. Doubt it very much.... more likely building pressure....
When we get the house done I will do a batch of baby backs, potato salad, coleslaw, jalapeno poppers, cream peas and new potatoes. Maybe a huge jambalaya. I will have both big grills going. We will invite everyone that was involved in the house and the neighbors and friends. Most likely this is when this decides to spew. Being so this is a shield volcano it will most likely give a great shaking, then huge boom then flow lava down the creek. Sort of like a molasses flow. If any of us has survived the great shaking and the poison gas from the huge boom... should be safe. Pass the potato salad - more ribs - jambalaya..... What was that? OH nothing.... How about a soothing Creme Brulee You know its a wonderful time and opportunity for a nature walk. This evening we will give the kids hot dogs and marshmallows and tell tales of the curses the Indians put on this ground and the curses the people before the Indians the ones the Indians took it away from..... The lava flow should be still very hot this evening. Oh that little rumble could not been much over a 6.5 just an after shock. More beet pickles dear?"
perfect
I love that crater ;)
I had the same kind of thing happen here this year. Started a burn next to a larger burn pile because I didn't want to have it all burn at once. Figured I'd been fine where I was....started it with drier lint, flint and steel and pine kindling...went up nicely, maybe too nice.
Turn around to do stuff.....turn back and the whole pile was going!!!! Guess it was just so dry from the cold we were having...didn't have to do the snow/water dance though ;) Just fired up the big Red Mahindra Beast and controlled the burn with the big loader bucket ;)
Note to self: big loader bucket......and tractor on the back end of that.
I AM shopping........
Back from the cabin.
Got the floor down.
Tired
Sore
Hurt
Old
I hurt myself in so many places, I got no more places that don't.
But.....my juices are gacked.
Can't wait to get back there.
Man, when we got done leveling, truing, layin' down timbers, and I stepped back; a rush of design ideas went berserk in my head.
I really can't wait to get back there.
I'll tell ya'll one thing.
My woman is either as much of a man as I, or I'm as much of a woman as she, 'cause she worked just as hard...maybe harder...OK..OK...she worked harder.
But
She couldn't match me in the bitch and moan dept.
It snowed a bit one night.
Heh, around midnight a bobcat jumped onto our front room roof from a tree, and musta had a peek or two thru the big window.
Heard it plop on the ground outside the door and scamper off.
Asked my woman if she'd just come back from the poophaus....no.
In the dim of the early morn I took a bleary gander out the kitchen window, and there it was....just slowly walkin' away.
Purdy in the snow.
Wish I'd had the camera handy just then.
Wunner if it watched me from the roof at least one of the three times I stumbled out in my undies to pee that night.
If so, I prolly gave it indigestion.
Our '93 Jimmy 1500 pickup overheated, according to the gauge, goin' over the pass.
It shouldn't have, load or no load, no matter the grade.
Coulda been one or two of several things.
So when we got back I took it to our trusted shop.
Turns out it was just the sender. It didn't overheat at all.
Saw five mighty nice deer when we were drivin' in.
And on the way home, 'bout 2-3 miles from the cabin, we watched a badger scurry across the road. My first badger sighting, ever.
I really can't wait to get back there.
Here's some pix;
our little floor of the bedroom is down...and tarped
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/hoaryfloor.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/hoaryfloor.jpg.html)
scattered darkness
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/nightisdark.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/nightisdark.jpg.html)
shop site (one day)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/shopsite.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/shopsite.jpg.html)
bobcat perch with human viewing accoutrement
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/midmorningsnow.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/midmorningsnow.jpg.html)
morn (sigh)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/morn.png) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/morn.png.html)
I really can't wait to get back there.
[cool] Would have been a cool picture catching the bobcat looking in. need more luck than I have.
Felines do have a curiosity about homes. Couple years ago on neighbor had a cougar watching TV through the patio door window. Connie girly screamed, that liked to scared the poor cat to death. It headed for the creek. Never showed back up to see the next episode.
Badgers like to be petted and scratched behind the ears. :D Actually young ones can be domesticated. Don't think I would ever trust one nor a raccoon.....
Quote from: rick91351 on May 14, 2014, 11:21:02 PM
neighbor had a cougar watching TV through the patio door window. Connie girly screamed, that liked to scared the poor cat to death. It headed for the creek. Never showed back up to see the next episode.
Now
that's funny
Quote from: rick91351 on May 14, 2014, 11:21:02 PMBadgers like to be petted and scratched behind the ears. :D Actually young ones can be domesticated.
r-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght
I'd rather keep the fingers I still have........... (note to self; Rick, cruel humor, be careful of him....log his advice in the satan file)
Ahhh yes I so know the feeling (s) -- all of them actually ;)
Our old neighbor had an A Frame that a local cougar thought was just nifty and used it as a perch. They were always changing out damaged shingles. One day in plopped down on the porch roof which like yours had a 'human viewing area' on it....it looked in, she looked out, it ran like hell after her screams! lol
Well, seems more common than not.
Heh, curiosity.....B-I-I-I-G curiosity
Headin' to the cabin in 6 hrs.
Man, I could hardly sleep last night.
Rebirth is rather rare when yer aged.
Wonderful rediscovery;
Aleve
I was zippin' around all night, packin', loadin', even did a quick PM on the truck.
Still, at 10p, no pain.
Funny thing, drugs.
A year or so ago we were adding on to the cabin.
Back started seizing up, spasming.
I popped a couple Vicodin.
I could....not....stop.....working.
Heh, I couldn't stop talking either.
Usually all that comes outta my mouth while building is cuss words.
Man, I jabbered away at what I was gonna do next, and after that, and all the options...waaaay into the night. Even woke up around 1a....'you know what else we can do?'
My woman kept givin' me a crazed quizzical look (that 'why are you so phreeeking nutty' look).
I'd just say, 'whut?.....hey, you know what else we can do? We can put the next cabin beside this one just a few feet over there, but at an angle, and lay down a deck between 'em, then put in an old fashioned hot tub, right in the middle, and you know what else?'....
My lady was ready to slip the clip into my Sig Sauer and end my misery when she discovered the empty Vicodin bottle.
Cannot wait till I get the walls up on the new cabin.
Gotta remember to take it slow. Savor it all a bit.
..............yeah riiiight.
Sure hope to heck I calculated the bird's mouths on the roof joists correctly (shudder).
Oh well, I'll just cut more, and then I'll lay out the walls on the new floor, nail the crap outta them, stand 'em up, true 'em, square 'em, brace 'em, and put up the joists.
And you know what else?.............
The cabin is taking shape.
I so love 4x4 construction.
It's very forgiving.
Unfortunately, it's very heavy.
The Wall
As our custom with all our cabin builds, we struggle in places.
The most memorable event this time was raising the wall.
Built it on the floor.
Simple.
Kinda fun.
'OK, we'll just tilt this wall up and while you balance it I'll scurry around and nail the sole plate then level and brace it.'
Heh
Something happens at the in between place, the pulling something up as far as you can go, then somehow magically converting to pushing it up.
There's a little squat/jump-clean/jerk maneuver of which I've never had much command.
I used to just power thru it.
Anymore, if I squat, the sit move comes directly after.
First attempt we couldn't get it above our bellybuttons.
S-o-o-o-o, we just stood there and watched each other quiver while considering our next move.
Seems the only thing on me that wanted to move was my sphincter.
I may have pooped a little.
.......don't tell anybody.
Can't say we panicked.
To panic, one must actually do something.
We mainly just watched each other's eyeballs extend past their sockets as our arms slowly but convincingly conceded the wall to gravity.
I may have lost around a quarter inch in height as my tibia and fibula ground into my right heel, due to the brilliant idea of bracing the wall with the place where my knee used to be.
(Hope the dragging one leg thing will eventually disappear.......)
My mind raced in place on a mental treadmill.
I hadn't given much forethought to the possibility of failure.
We came to a mutual conclusion;
'WE'RE SCREWED!!'
'DROP IT!!!!'
We circled the wall.
We pondered the wall.
'OK, now we know it's heavy.'
Second attempt we managed to slide it right off the floor....standing it up....on the ground.
'Well.....I'll just pick up my end and put it on the floor, then sidle over and help you with your end.'
Why is it that one reacts favorably to the really stupid bonehead ideas right away?
Eventually, we laid (plopped) it back on the floor, and nailed a long 2x4 to the other end of the floor to stop the sucker.
'Maybe we should get a run at it.'
(insert crazed, maniacal laughter here).
Finally, we steeled ourselves, and with gritted resolve and determination.....and the knowledge that, win or lose, this was going to be our laaaast attempt while on this earth...or at least today, we reached deep into our psyche.
An old man and a sweet not as old woman was able to get that wall up that evening.
There's normal laughter, then (immediately after accomplishing something arduous), there's subdued, higher pitched, relieved laughter.
It goes like this; eheh....eheh.....eheh.
(http://i.imgur.com/Cl1JZkT.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/thlTPgm.jpg)
I must have missed it somewhere (because I was laughing too hard)...what is this cabin for? A spare? Guest room?
Gonna be our bedroom
Speaking as someone who's still young and strong enough to lift a wall into place on his own: don't. There's a reason why man discovered all these force multipliers thousands of years ago. Pulleys, levers, counterweights, etc. Nothing ends cabin construction like an unanticipated knee surgery. :)
'tis a truth
But then.....what would I write about?
The time factor pressed us a bit.
The 4x4 studs were uncommonly heavy (wet).
Next big wall will raise by the pull of a winch, a stop on the floor, and a cable on each end.
Here's what we did yesterday (time....sheeesh);
Looks like a shed now, but with shakes and a homemade french door it'll begin to get that gnomelike motif I'm always after.
In a couple weeks we'll be back down there putting on the roof.
TYVEK upside down and backwards spells break time...or beerthirty
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/tyvekspelledbackwardsKEVYTwhichmeansnotadamnthing.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/tyvekspelledbackwardsKEVYTwhichmeansnotadamnthing.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/tyvek.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/tyvek.jpg.html)
OSB hell
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/OSBhell.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/OSBhell.jpg.html)
Interesting..................
Just read an article gentleman in Littleton Co. just got fined $200 for flying a Betsy Ross flag by his home owner association. He is quite a troublemaker he apparently received a warning in April when he decided to fly the Gadsden, the yellow, pre-revolutionary flag reading "Don't Tread On Me." Recently he was fined $100 for flying a Co. state flag.
With that said what would house wrap upside down and backwards net the home owners assn?
It do make some kinda statement.
Like, hey Dupont, I like yer spinners, but this wrap crap needs an adhesive backing for windy days.
I s'pose there's fancy handled despoolers, but found it much more entertaining to unwrap the little woman from time to time.
So, I been whittlin' on some 2x2 cedar.
Thought I'd make French doors for the new shack.
I always draw up specs before I attempt a project that involves more than one piece of wood (see detailed plans)
Detailed plans;
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/detailedfrenchdoorspecifications.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/detailedfrenchdoorspecifications.jpg.html)
Making the French doors.
Subtle suggestion; DO NOT MAKE FRENCH DOORS!!!!
Seemed like a simple enough project.......hehh hehh.
For, oh, say 60 of the 65 years I've been in existence, I've whittled/butchered/cobbled/hewn/chopped/gouged/disfigured and outright mutilated wood.
I tend to turn most my projects into timed weekend warrior events.
These races typically start when I pull in the drive Friday afternoon and end late Sunday evening...prone, weeping, cutting myself.
I figger that's why there are five week days.
Convalescence.
On any given Saturday morning, at 3AM, I can be found stumbling around, holding a 17th cup of coffee in my quavering hand, looking for.....something....oh, yeah, my try square......oh well, I'll jus zip a shade off the ol' edge.
......well, crap.
Oh, heeeeere's my try square.
No worries, Home Dopey opens in three hours.
Think I'll make another pot of coffee.
Note to readers; if one maintains hurry mode, one can gain much experience in repair mode, which comes directly after scurry mode, but only after the WTF!!? (discovery) and wailing modes.
But I do love French doors, and my imagination puts me and my woman waking up every morning to a glorious forested vista, with shards of sun rays beaming into the cabin.
So I slog away.
Roughed in;
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/446f36eb-2e0c-4f0a-82c8-c3f8e9d8d634.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/446f36eb-2e0c-4f0a-82c8-c3f8e9d8d634.jpg.html)
11pm was 2 hrs ago, busy creating le French FUBAR;
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/windowtrimhrdwr22.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/windowtrimhrdwr22.jpg.html)
.......so don't #%!&%#!! bother me with details like 'you need more hinges', and 'double panes will immediately morph into a no see thru shower door motif if you don't seal them'
K?!!!
I've added four more hinges and removed the double panes since taking this pick;
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/7f97316e-2a02-44a6-bb40-508bcb369cc2.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/7f97316e-2a02-44a6-bb40-508bcb369cc2.jpg.html)
The weekend is pretty much over.
I'll be horizontal in my lazy boy
.....cutting myself.
I don't know what I like better... the doors or the description of how they were made. Both are works of art, so I will say job well done on both.
[cool]
Thank you, Andy
Got a wildfire 40 mi from the cabin.
Horribly dry summer combined with a winter that yielded only a foot of snow, and now lightening...well, this trip w/be interesting
(http://i.imgur.com/MpK2NYZ.jpg)
Gary may the force be with you....
Thanks, Pard
gonna be a l-o-o-o-n-g summer
Yep us as well again this year. Aug last year was charming. last year this c* closed to within a couple miles of us.
(https://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt15/rick91351/Prairiefire_zpse1ccf824.jpg)
This one hooked around and almost got us from the west
(https://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt15/rick91351/firemouthofsmithcreek_zps33675131.jpg)
Me I spent three days in this jungle over at the neighbors ranch fighting fire. At sixty years old and 100 degree days decided running a locomotive was not a bad way to put food on the table.....
(https://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt15/rick91351/fireluthercooks_zpsfa1c4639.jpg)
Best wishes
Tired
The Moccasin Creek fire is genrly contained.
I expected to be breathing smoke while we were at the cabin, but the winds were favorable.
This old age thing is gettin' old.
My scurry has turned to mosey.
Happy thing is, I'm making fewer mistakes.
Saved the hanging of the French doors for last, but the first thing I did when we got there was measure the opening.
The last few days before we left were spent wringing my hands, 'cause I couldn't quite remember the exact height of the opening, even though I'd written it down in my notebook.
It was the next to the last thing I did before we left the cabin.
The very last thing I did was put my notebook away....in my bedside drawer....at the cabin.
Buuut, all fits quite well.
Ever see an old man do a cartwheel?
Me neither.
Morning comes early
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/morningcomesearly.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/morningcomesearly.jpg.html)
The door is now on
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/doorsareon.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/doorsareon.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/doorsareonjpg5.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/doorsareonjpg5.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/doorsareonjpg4-1.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/doorsareonjpg4-1.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/doorsareonjpg3.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/doorsareonjpg3.jpg.html)
more room now in the main cabin
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/themaincabinnowhasmoreroomjpg2.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/themaincabinnowhasmoreroomjpg2.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/themaincabinnowhasmoreroom.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/themaincabinnowhasmoreroom.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/themaincabinnowhasmoreroomjpg3.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/themaincabinnowhasmoreroomjpg3.jpg.html)
Gary O!
Amazed at your work! What did you have to do to steam bend all that wood??? d* d* d*
Just kidding of course, place looks great and stay away from the fire!
Jeff
Hah! Funny.
Had to use the fisheye to get it all in.
It is coming along, but having a harder time keeping the vision these days.
Once we get the roof and siding on, I'll feel better.
That'll be all done by mid Aug.
Thanks Jeff
cheers
Nice project! Here's to cooler temps and clear summer air!
Thank you Mr John.
'Clear' is the word
Lots of fires here too! Glad you're making out well.
Hey Guys
We arrived at the cabin around 9pm last Tuesday.
Usually we get out, walk the cabin area, looking for signs of break in, or wildlife events.
Usually we go; LOOK! What's this?!...discovering later that they are our own tracks from last time.
This time my lady made a beeline to the poophaus.
Considerable coffee intake on the way down was more than ready to outgo.
Note;
I built our loo in the strict style of the (I really don't know what to do here) ancient culture of early ignoramusism, religiously adhering to the 'I've gotta poop now' method.
One of the unique features is having to insert and outsert a board from the back of our facility in order to cover and uncover the 5 gal poopail.
In my woman's scurry to the back of our poophaus to remove the board, she suddenly got real quiet, trying, in the dark, to focus on and fathom what her mind was trying to explain to her.
'Gar, come here....quick!'
'What?'
'JUST....COME....HEEEEERE.....!......'NOWWWWW!'
My mind registered that my dear woman of 45 years, mother of my children, grandmother of my grandchildren, might be in trouble, and most definitely is facing down some sorta wild animal, most likely a hungry puma (of which, by the way, would make a really cool name of a rock band...'The Hungry Pumas').....
.....where was I......ah, yes....screaming woman.
I immediately went into rapid dawdle, tearing myself away from starring at the load in the pickup, breaking into a speedy saunter.
I mean since it's obviously a large heaving drooling ravenous wild mountain lion, why confuse everyone by rushing in and suddenly becoming the other white meat?
(this tactic learned from many years of astute survivalist training)
As I came around the cabin, here is what I saw, that my wife was trying to explain to me in great detail (in as few stunned, stupefied words as possible);
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0337.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0337.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0353.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0353.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0345.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0345.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0363.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0363.jpg.html)
How I falls 'em (four at a time)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/treesdown.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/treesdown.jpg.html)
root cellar, quick
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0361.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0361.jpg.html)
too close to call (shudder)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0341-2.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0341-2.jpg.html)
However, the main event, the one that was our main purpose of this trip, the putting on of the roof, was somewhat of an adventure all by itself.
Wednesday morning clouds formed.
Ah.
Not gonna be so hot.
Nice.
Mosey.
Tear off sagging roof tarp.
Gaze, with frozen stupification, at waterfall from sagging tarp gush directly onto bed, camera, pistol, and other important things, like me.
Haul tools and organize things while cabi swabs out bedroom cabin and hangs things out to dry.
Mosey.
Rest from mosey.
Work, grunt, work.
Rest.
Sip coffee.
Ponder next thing to do and how to do it.
Get the 2x6s three fourths on and suddenly realize my arm, hand and thumb are no longer functioning, deciding instead to compete with my back for spasm count.
Rest.
Sip coffee.
Ponder.
Watch strange birds.
Go 'Whazzat?' several times in repetition.
Consider nap.
Tell each other to slow down, 'we've got three days'.
Rain happens.
Rather suddenly.
Lots and lots of rain.
We discover 2x6s, tightly nailed, leak like sieves.
We gaze at the tarp shreds now on the ground.
We commence to mutually scream out pointed nouns and adjectives;
'THE (effing) BED!
'THE (effing) FLOOR!'
'EFF EFF EFF EFF!!!'
....all the while waving our arms in the air, running to and fro, banging into each other like berserk windup toys.
Eventually, I scurry up and down the ladder, with the agility of a wounded rhinoceros, throwing tarp shreds and OSB scraps onto the roof.
Ever see a wounded rhinoceros scurry up and down a ladder?
I-I-I-I think not.
It's not pretty.
By the time I ran outta crap to throw on the roof, it's done raining.....for the week, it turns out.
It's now close to 8pm.
I have no idea it will never ever ever rain again.
I just want to sleep in a bed....a dry bed....from the dry bedding from the main cabin.
An old fat man pulled up his trousers and tore all the wood scraps and tarp rags back off and doggedly finished the subroof...including the tar paper.....then drove 20 miles for a new tarp.
Tired?
I hadn't known that kinda tired since....well....I don't know.
My back spasms had spasms.
Ever OD on naproxen?
I only took two, before bed.
Only I couldn't lie down.
Too much pressure in the chest.
I actually couldn't move.
Considered the possibility of having a heart attack, and death.
Started welcoming the possibility of death.
I could feel my lady's quiet concern, momentarily asking pertinent questions like, does your left arm hurt?
Why are you sweating?
After a lengthy Q&A, she handed me two Tums.
Bingo.
I'm ready to put on the roll roofing.
Thursday and Friday we did menial things and took lots of moments to enjoy our little patch of pumice.
Life is good.
Horrifically good.
Next trip, the siding, roll roofing, and other stuff.
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/DSC_0350.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/DSC_0350.jpg.html)
That is one bad attribute of pines in that they have a very shallow root system. Generally they are alright if left in masses but once you open an area up they start to fall. Seems if they are left together they are sheltered somewhat. They also in my opinion are a dirty tree meaning that they are constantly loosing limbs which have to be picked up. Looks as if you have a few more that are close to the cabin. I believe I would try to get rid of them or maybe one day they will create a "skylight" where you didn't plan to have one.
At one of my residences once upon a time had huge white pines nearby. I believe it was in 92 we had a huge snow storm pass through dumping about 3' of snow. Yep you guessed it. One not so close to the house decided that it had stood upright long enough. Measuring about 36" in diameter some 100 feet tall decided that my wifes car was a good place to lay down. Had three limbs about 6-8" penetrate her then 1 year old Pontiac roof. The limbs went all the way through to the pavement underneath. Total loss. :(
Yeah, John, it's been my quandary from day one.
Thing is, the point of having a cabin in the woods is a cabin....in the woods.
The pines here suffer a double whammy.
There's only a few feet (in some places, inches) of pumice, then hard pan.
The roots tend to flare out even more.
These four trees were definitely tied in to each other.
I'd planned on at least topping them before moving there.
They looked to be leaning the direction they fell, but even though I thought the cabin to be safe, I'm no wizard.
We have only a couple other trees of significance within cabin range, and they seem to be listing leeward and away from the cabin.
All in all, stuff happens.
If one of our cabins gets crushed, I'll weep a while, kick some pumice, then build a better one.
If all three (or four) get thwacked, I'll shake my fist at god, and build out by the meadow.
If I happen to be having a long winter's nap when the bough breaks. Well....it's been real.
Gary please refer to the photo of you and an ax and an exposed root system on some pine trees....... This ax as been entered into evidence of contract violation. A private photo lab has identified this ax as an Acme Model Eversharp 32 Double Bit with life time Eversharp Warranty.
Notice here been given and your receipt there of does constitute a termination of the clause in contract and hold harmless agreement you signed when you bought said ax. Line three explains that this ax shall not be used in root grubbing.....
Photographic proof that you were root grubbing does in fact violate the Acme Eversharp Lifetime Sharpening Agreement. We will no longer sharpen your ax for free.......
Found out!
Exposed!
Exposed like the grubby roots I've been grubbing.
Is there no peace?!
Is there no equanimity for the common grubber?!
Fellow root grubbers, UNTIE!
(http://i.imgur.com/xaqdVck.jpg) (http://imgur.com/xaqdVck)
So we whipped down to the cabin(s) to lay the 2x6 floor and nail on the exterior trim and finish staining/sealing.
Love to find places that have cheaper stuff than the Home Dopies of the world.
Found this obscure place that has all kinds of salvaged building materials and unusual wood pieces.
I was like a kid in a candy store.
Settled on some rough cut 1x6 fir.
I have this vision.
My woman shares the same vision.
'Give the place a rustic look...yeah'
Here's where things got complicated.
'rough cut' is not necessarily 1x6
It can be 1x6...in places
Other places it can be 1x5...or 1x3.....
Thusly, getting things level and plum don't work out so well.
If you try to match 45° cuts (like a picture frame), you end up searching thru the pile for same widths...there are no 'same widths'.
And 1x tends to split when pummeled with a 7d ring-shank nail...especially when on tippy toes on the uppermost 'THIS IS NOT A STEP' part of the ladder....leaning far to the right, one centimeter past the colossal misfortune zone, clinging to the wall like a morbidly obese batgrampa.
Our neighbor Greg, down the road, must think I am the most abusive husband ever, because these lovely rustic trim boards absorbed every guttural loudly uttered moniker I could sputter, beginning with the pronoun 'you'.
Buuut, as usual, we had fun, rested in places, enjoyed our meals outside, and mustered a sense of pride in what two aged wheezing overfed almost retirees could accomplish in one day.
Oh, and we had a little visitor Saturday night.
Sometime after total dark set in, while we were still relaxing (plopping, heaving, gasping, slumped) in our camp chairs, sipping ice tea, admiring our work, we both saw something flutter in front of the cabin.
'Whazzat?'
'Dunno'
'Huh'
We got up, stumbled around putting the rest of the tools away, tripping over the little sapling stump (cleverly positioned between the two cabins) for the 27th time, and trudged into our new rustic boudoir.
Gotta say, it was nice to lie there on the bed, gazing at our handiwork.
My woman zonked out immediately.
I heard a noise.
A nibbling or skittering, mouse like noise.
I was thankful she didn't hear it (let the little guy enjoy his evening), 'cause she'd be up and searching for it...with a hammer.
Read my book till I got sleepy, and twisted off the lantern.
Laid there in the dark, barely making out the ceiling beams.
Saw something rather dark flutter.
Twisted on the lantern.
A bat was zooming around the cabin.
.......huh......a bat....huh......
.........A BAT??!!
Nudged the little woman.
WE GOT A BAT!!
Covers fly.
We're up.
I wish I had a video of us flailing away at that critter with the only things available.....foam cushions.
Gave the shotgun a thought.
We opened both doors, but the little sucker just wanted to go up.
It would stop, cling to a high corner, panting (I imagine...or maybe that was just us), then, after we threw shoes and books at it, commence to fly around and around, deftly dodging slabs of foam.
I jumped up on the bed, strategically teetering, making pathetic circles with my arms while falling backwards onto the floor.
My woman didn't miss a beat, remaining a non-stop foam whisk machine.
I figger we got about 47 minutes of aerobic flailing until we finally got it out the door.
Next trip I'll put the screens on.
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/4.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/4.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/2.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/2.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/tweencabins.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/tweencabins.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/3.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/3.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/1.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/1.jpg.html)
(https://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/GaryOD/8.jpg) (https://s418.photobucket.com/user/GaryOD/media/8.jpg.html)
On your floor did you T&G it or lay it straight just tight together?
On rough cut lumber: it should be a min of 1"x6" (often referred to 4/4 x 6" (4x1/4" = 1") -- being rough sawn / rough cut, simply means it was not planed to size and edged.
Oh and very nice work by the way :) Always enjoy the escapades too ;) d*
Quote from: OlJarhead on September 23, 2014, 02:37:26 PM
Oh and very nice work by the way :) Always enjoy the escapades too ;) d*
Well, OJ, I've shopped T&G and car decking, thinking I needed all the help I could get, as far as securing a good, tight fit and no warpage. But, man, the lumber yards think a whole lot of their crappy, loosely graded boards. Pricing is a bit nuts.
So, on the first cabin, I went with plain ol' 2x6 kiln dried SPF for the floor and the roof/ceiling.
I mostly pick/sort myself, eyeballing and laying them together, less knots and wane.
The A frame cabin was built a half dozen or so years ago, and no issues. (I kinda wrung my hands for a few months).
(http://i.imgur.com/TEPiDtE.jpg)
So I'm purty comfy with them now.
As for using factory dimensional lumber for exposed flooring, I had my doubts. Thought I better saw off an 8th inch off the sides so they wouldn't have that rounded feature. But, seems sweepable.
Aaaand, it's a cabin.
As far as 4x4s for studs, it's mostly cause I don't care to (or have the skill to) align everthing to hoyle so I have more surface to sink a nail or screw....and I don't build to exact calculations....('that should hold a snow load')
Not fully readin' you on what's 'rough cut', but this stuff seems to have been just run once thru the blade.
Not sure what it was originally intended for, but at $.95 for eight feet, I liked it (notice the past tense).
and just used roll roofing, but figger it's a good sub layment for the good stuff, whatever that (tin?) is....
Quote from: OlJarhead on September 23, 2014, 02:37:26 PM
Oh and very nice work by the way :) Always enjoy the escapades too ;) d*
....and thank you.
I get a kick out of writin' about 'em.
cheers, pard
Since I run a small mill I'm a little more intimately familiar with 'rough sawn' lumber ;) than most I'll wager lol But in short you cut it to 'true' dimensions so it can dry (shrink) and be planed to match 'dimensional' lumber (a dimensional 2x4 is actually 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"). I do however mill different ways for rough sawn lumber: on the wholes (1,2,3,4" etc) which actually leaves 7/8" thick boards rather than 1" if sawing 1x's or using a mill scale which will actually produce 1" thick boards, or for those who just want 'dimensional' straight off the mill I mill at 3/4ths....the advantage being you get a little more out of a log but the end product if planed will be thinner that a store bought product (if sawing 3/4)...
Personally I use 7/8ths stuff all the time (my doors were made with it for example) and my 2x decking is really 1 7/8" because I milled on the evens for it...in the end the point is that the blade (in my case band) is just under 1/8" thick so if I saw at 1" it will carve off a little less than an 8th leaving a slightly smaller board unless I use the mill scale to compensate. However, a portable mill can make whatever you want :)
BUT I'm rambling now! lol d*
Heh, OJ, yer ramble beats my drone any day.
Thanx for the contribution.
When I get ready to build a real cabin (a sprawling 400 sf with loft), I'll be tapping yer knowledge.
cheers
Gary loved the bat story.
Your bat story made me realize the other day when I went down to the shop. The big drive in doors were left open. My out feed table and table saw were sitting there in the door way. I turned on the saw got the board up there to rip just touched the board to the spinning whirring blade and out sprayed a raw hamburger looking concoction bloody and hairy. YUK!!! Something fell down in to the sawdust below as well. I had a bloody streak on my planed board and some little chunks of something. Out sprayed on to my start of the day clean shirt a sort of yuk....... as well as up my arm. I finished ripping the board. This point I am not sure if it was nerves of steel or very poor reaction time but I never flinched. I thought a mouse most likely had secreted himself under the table saw during the night and some how ran and got in the blade. I went back to the trailer and washed real well. Hard telling what brand of Hantavirus, Black Plague, or Flu that destructive little mini-monster was packing. Then now after reading your bat story and noticing all the bats flying around at night up here this year. Most likely was a rabid bat possibility. I think I am about to become one of those clean freaks that lock themselves in a clean environment and will not even contact my keyboard and touch screen without washing it with chlorine wipes. I shall have the bug exterminators here weekly......
However I did get off on another tangent. I would love to own up here a new Saw Stop Saws. They really make sense to me anywhere but up here where it is a couple hours to the hospital barring Life Flight they just seem to be a good idea. I want one of those saws that you touch the hot dog to and in hundreds or thousands of milliseconds the cartridge pops (explodes) and the blade is stopped instantly and disappears below the table with narry a scratch on the hot dog. Yes friend it the hot dog is still eatable and in one piece. However your old wore out demo blade is toasted and a $70 Saw Stop cartridge is shot. Mostly in my case here it would have been a new $100 Thin Kerf Forrest blade is ruined as well as a cartridge. The bright side the death of a most likely rabid rodent would not be on my conscience.
Note to the Garry Santa - Please a Saw Stop Saw for Christmas!!!
Quote from: rick91351 on September 29, 2014, 09:26:22 AM
Note to the Garry Santa - Please a Saw Stop Saw for Christmas!!!
Well crap, the thing is made in my back yard!
Kinda takes the fun outta rippin', though....
Now, where's my list.....
Ah, here it is;
(http://i.imgur.com/RKYfT9L.jpg)
Just got back from four days at the cabin.
Pooped
Happy
Burned some slash
Here we are, moving there in May
Don't have the addition on, thus the wood stove isn't installed yet
Don't have the utility shed up, thus no electric hooked up to the well
And every time I get on here and see all these magnificent places, my mind goes; 'self; are you effing nuts???!!'
Then I settle down and compose myself with a calming reassuring determination....that yes, yes I am nuts.
But
Here's the deal;
We just survived four days at the cabin during the beginning of winter.
Pretty mild at 20°F, but, without a tiny propane buddy heater, it's p-r-e-t-t-y durn freekin' cold.
OK, we have two big buddy heaters.
So we were just cold at night.
Oh, we haven't insulated the boudoir just yet either.
Turns out, one can actually shiver themselves to sleep.
At least until, well...
what is it about a mate's hind end becoming an iceberg, anyway?
Anyhoot, I figger this;
Got the summer to do what we can before next winter.
But the clincher is, everything we do will be an improvement, progress.
Not packing up
Not driving hundreds of miles
Not going home
We will be home
Doing the next thing
And the next....
Gary may I interject the worse part of what you are saying there is always a next.... Ellen and I are living that life right now. Somewhere in the A B C through like XYZ and around Q R S we needed to build a real wood shed.....
Well slow the heck down!
I gotta catch up!
Real wood shed, or real woodshed?
See, I'm easily confused
Real wood shed or real wood shed sort of sounds like - You got a lot of a lot of rattlesnakes up here? And You got a lot of rattlesnakes up here!!!!!
A shed we store firewood in. Firewood well cured is now is under a green tarp and now very moist...... due to huge amount of rains and high winds.....
Well, here's the deal.
I've fed wood stoves and chopped/piled wood most of my youth.
Our woodshed consisted of two side (end) walls and a makeshift roof.
The makeshift roof was removable for tossing wood off the truck.
Not sure how anyone else did it.
I do hate wet wood.
(you can have yer rattlers, btw)
Now, I'm just gonna sidle back over to yer thread and gaze at pictures........
we made a pretty simple (and nice we think) wood shed by digging holes in the ground (12"-18") and setting logs in them (8-12" dia - and dead already so pretty dry), concreting around them for stability and then nailing (with great big galvy's) cross logs on top of them. Then used smaller 'logs' (4-6" dia) as 'rafters which we nailed scrap wood onto and then screwed down metal roofing. Sure is nice to have a dry place to store wood :) and it looks rustic too.
Oh and we salvaged pallets for flooring.
I missed that you were planning on living there some how! Good on you guys! I hope you enjoy it and get some relaxing in after all the initial 'gettin' ready part :)
Quote from: OlJarhead on December 30, 2014, 02:39:20 PM
I missed that you were planning on living there some how! Good on you guys! I hope you enjoy it and get some relaxing in after all the initial 'gettin' ready part :)
'relaxing'
...can't
I've gotta learn how to do that
I s'pose we'll set aside some days to get a line wet, but the niggling of the coming (first) winter will keep me moving at a purty good clip that first summer.
I figger I'll have to buy my wood as it is.
Once settled, we'll be posting our progress.
Oughta be a kick
(yer place, along with Rick's of course, is wunna them places I previously mentioned...and covet)
Gary if you are like the most of us the permanent shed is not high on our priority list. Maybe because the wood is a short term commodity. Yes I will at some point build something more permanent but for now temporary is 'getting us by".
I use a very easy structure. Pick your self up some salvage pallets. Helps if they are somewhat the same size. Locate about 4T-post. Lay a couple pallets on the ground end to end. Now drive two T-post spaced so that you can slip two other pallets down over them one on top of the other standing up. Now you have one end and the floor. Do the same thing for the other end and it is finished except for a roof. You can be inventive on this but for me I use 2X material as a couple rafters and then use scrap tin to cover. Use additional pallets on top to hold down the tin. You can use tarps as well. I try not to cover the ends of the wood which allow it to dry and only cover it to keep water from hitting the top.
Good luck. I know you will come up with something to your likin. Well back to the ice packs.
Yeah, many ways to do stuff.
Heh, sittin' here in town, twistin' knobs, flickin' switches.
Not much of a life, I'll tell ya.
Come o-o-o-o-n spring
OK, around 100 days left til we move to the cabin.
Got a list a mile long of things that gotta get done.
I've dawdled about as long as I dare.
If I think about it all at once I tend to head to the fridge and pop a cold one.
So I'm just consecrating on one thing at a time, and checking them off as I go.
Thing is, some stuff coincide with other things, so the one-at-time rule doesn't apply to everything (drives me nuts).
Just sold the house (kinda a biggy) check.
One thing that I'm gonna think about right now (while our backs learn to quit screaming from cleaning out that container we bought) is battery power.
Not solar
Not there...yet
Jenny to battery to things.
I've got this simple question.
Heh, stopped at Batteries Plus. Thought they'd just rattle off answers and point. The pimple faced kid had no idea what I was even talking about.
I'll still keep them in mind for AA and AAA batteries.
Here's my simple question;
What do I need in order to have power to a half dozen 100 watt lightbulbs, a couple laptops (notebooks) and five minutes worth of toaster/microwave activity?
OK, I really don't care about the toaster or microwave, but thought I'd throw those in there while I was asking.
Thing is, I really really don't want to know why.
'Why' is for those who I consider geniuses.
I'm just smart enough to have come to the conclusion that I'm not a genius since I have the intellect of a hammer (not a nailer....n-o-o-o-o, not a nailer).
I just want to know 'what'.
My question;
I know I need a;
Battery (deep cycle I s'pose)
Inverter
Cable
Charge controller
Converter
A/C power cord (with some sorta fancy converter connectors)
What brands, kinds, what's best, from where, what else?
(OK it's a multi-part question)
Once I get some input from you geniuses, and compile my list, we'll move on to the subject of how.
I intend on getting wunna those Honda EU2000i jenny/inverters, so maybe I won't need a stand alone inverter (??)
And it won't actually say 'Honda' on it. It'll say 'Predator' and come with a price tag that says $500.
Anyhoot, once I've got some input, I'm off to the store.
Then hooking it all up here at the house for a bit of self show and tell.
Standing by
Forget incandescent. 100 watters too if you ask me. Try looking at HD for LED's in the 60watt equivalent range. I found some of those that use 9watts of power to produce the 'sorta like' 60 watt incandescent light. They work well, will last and will save you money in the long run.
Next, consider Costco or Sam's Club golf cart batteries. We call them GCB's in most solar threads. They tend to weigh about 65lbs a piece and give about 220AH (Amp Hours) of power each but since they are 6 volts and you need at least 12 (better to go with 24v) you have to put two together (to get 12v) which gives you 220AH at 12v...if you want 24v like my system than you need 4 of them in 'series' (minus to plus on down the line) and you'll have 220AH at 24v (series doesn't add the amp hours, just the volts, parallel ads the amp hours but not the volts)...I'll do a drawing.
So, next you need to know how many amps you plan to use per day and that will be a key factor in knowing what you need. For example: if you use 1 light at a time for the most part than you can say you will use 9.4 watts (my calc on the LED's) per hour of usage and if you figure 4 hrs average (5pm to 9pm) than you will use 9.4 times 4hrs for a total of 37.6watt hours of use -- now change that to amp hours (so you can look at the battery and know what kind of life you'll get) 37.6watt hours divided by the voltage (12v for example) equals 3.14Amp Hours.
So if you have 220 amp hours than you can run that light bulb a LONG time. In theory you could run it 220AH/3.14AH=70 hours.
But here's the thing: what you take out, you must put back in :D
So I look at batteries like a as tank that you can only use 20% of daily (max) and must put back in 20% daily or the tank won't hold anymore gas ;)
So, 20% of 220AH = 44AH. So if you just had two batteries you could use that much power per day and if you had a good 20 amp (or better) charger than you could put that back into the batteries daily with just 2-3 hours of gen run time.
Make sense?
(https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y442/emcvay2/Cabin/Power_zpsb27d533b.jpg)
This is a simple drawing of what you need. For a simple low cost system you can use something like the AIMS 55amp 12v charger and say the AIMS 2500 watt inverter (modified) which I ran when I started out. Worked for most things except lithium ion powered stuff and some of my wifes hair irons.
The above will allow you to draw 88AH of power in an evening (usually at night we use most power) and only draw the bank to 80% (20% Depth of Discharge) of charge which is a safe amount to draw it down and have it live a long time. You would need to know how much power everything you plan to use requires. I'd make a list of each item and post it here (toasters use 750-1100watts for example, so I don't use one except on very rare occasions), MW's use around 1500watts (some less, as low as 1000 maybe, some more, up to 1800). Once you have all those and get the amount of time per day you expect to use them we can assist you in figuring out how much power daily you would use. Once done we can help you decide what kind of set up might work best based on budget etc.
Another thing to consider is this: how often do I want to run the gen? Is there anything that is power related that will always be one?
OJH, caught the incandescent thing... You do not want any incandescents running off a battery. IMO, you should skip the CFL's and jump right to LED's. We use the Cree 60 watt daylight 120 VAC LED's in our home and cabin. I wondered if I would be happy with their output, tried two and convinced myself I did not need anything higher even for old eyes. Try one or two at home if you have not already.Lowe's and others also have nice 120 VAC LED's, 40, 60 and even 100 watts.
If you really plan on NO other 120 VAC uses I am impressed. We are very citified I suppose, what with our electric can opener, coffee maker, microwave, electric kettle, 40" LED TV ..... We also charge our laptops, phones and MP3 player from 120 VAC. We do have three DC powered florescent lights under the kitchen cabinets (Thinlite brand) plus a DC powered water pump.
If you skip the m-wave and any other electric appliances you can get along with a very small battery capacity. Be warned that electrical use grows. It always has dating back to the days when farms across the country were connected to the first rural power co-ops.
So before getting too far along in making equipment suggestions be very careful instating what is needed. If there is a chance of wanting something in the future try to anticipate that now, as off grid power systems can be problematic to add on later. The number of hours of use as well as the wattage consumed must be calculated. If anyone tells you that "this here setup" is all you need, there is every chance it will either be too large a system or too small a system.
Including something like a microwave takes a tiny system into the realm of a big, small system. That requires a bigger inverter. Bigger inverters waste more power than a small inverter, when doing small loads.
Well, there's some info for sure.......
Usually after I recv detailed instruction like that, I thank the individual and go on my merry way, ending up rubbing two sticks together.
But
You, sir, are more than a genius, because I'll be dogged if I don't understand everthing you writ.
And, yeah, those kinda bulbs.
Thing is, originally I just didn't want to hear the hum of a tiny jenny while I'm on my laptop, or have the place lit up for finding important things after dark, like each other. But, it still may be a consideration, since the thing goes several hrs on a gallon of gas.
However
Your diagram, and simple info make it all seen quite possible. Yessir.
You s'pose, for startup, I could get away with just two GCBs if I just powered up 6 of those fancy bulbs for 3-4 hrs?
(I'm thinking I could charge the laptop batts during the day when the jenny is on)
edit after reading MD's input;
LED bulbs, yes
just need lights for now...I know...I know.....future, but very willing to trade up or scrap, or put in another cabin....
so, just need lights for now (wife doesn't want toasters or MW stuff anyway)
Well you could get away with two GCB's if you only ran lights. But bear in mind that they don't take well to adding more later. You can add a coupel more in a year or so if you are kind but then it's a done deal more or less. So at $90ea (roughly) it makes more sense to me to get at least 4 ;)
As for your question the math tells the tale ;)
6 lights at 9.4watts each running for one hour use a total of 56.4 watt hours. Converted to AMPS that's 4.7Amp Hours (AH).
Running 4 hours at 4.7AH means you would use 18.8AH of battery capacity PLUS the amount used by the Inverter (which draws power to run) during the same time. Let's take an example:
AIMS 2000 Watt Modified Sine Wave Inverter (just because they are cheap and I like them) uses 2Amps with no load (we will assume it's negligible above that for now) so for 4 hours it will draw at least 8AH and your lights will use 18.8AH (let's round to 20 to be safe) so we're now at a total of 28AH of battery capacity in 4 hours.
No TV? No Radio? No Laptop? Etc? Just to run the lights alone and not draw the system below 80% of charge you would be fine with just two of those golf cart batteries since 20% of 220AH is 44AH.
Make sense? You're close with 28AH since you only have 16AH left to get to the 80% you really want to stay above but you're ok.
As mentioned above, I think of it like a tank :) took 28AH out, need to put 28AH back in :)
On a side note I just saw this little inverter charger that's Pure Sine Wave: http://www.theinverterstore.com/2000-watt-pure-sine-inverter-charger.html#
For the price something like that might work nicely for you. You won't need a charge since it has a 40A charger with it (replace that 28AH in an hour easy) and has some other nice features. I use an AIMS 4000 Watt pure sine inverter charger and have come to love that thing :)
Just for fun I put this drawing together....
(https://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y442/emcvay2/Cabin/BatteryUsage_zpsf5e33f22.jpg)
It sorta shows the 'tank' idea. Using 28AH of lights over a 4hr period would draw down the two GCB's to 87% of capacity.
Man, that's the info I needed.
Much appreciated, OJ and MD
Notes and thoughts about things I believe you need to know....
Microwave ovens, do not like to run on cheap Modified Sine Wave (MSW) inverters. The m-oven will ne noisier in operation but more importantly will be incredibly less efficient. The MSW will cause the m-oven to have to run longer to heat the same item than is Pure Sine Wave (PSW) power was used.
The more the electronics in a device the shorter it's life will likely be. Many devices will operate, but will operate less efficiently, hotter, noisier. LED's and CFL's have electronics. Perhaps they will humm a little off key, but they will probably die earlier too. Hard to measure that. Some tool battery chargers will not function on MSW, some devices will smoke, and others don't have immediate problems. It is something of a crap shoot as to how fast issues arise.
Needless for me to say, but I believe PSW inverters are worth their extra cost.
IF you don't have any devices that consume large numbers of watts of power there are a couple very nice PSW inverters in the 300 watt range. That will run your lights and laptops. Morningstar has one, the Sure-Sine 300. No fan, very low no load and idle self consumption. Samlex also has a 300 watt that is PSW with low power loses. The Morningstar even has a standby mode. Extremely low power consumption when sleeping. It does need at least 8 watts to wake it up; one of the 60 watt LED lights will do that.
OJH mentioned that m-ovens use more watts than their rated cook power. Cooking power is the watts you see advertised, 600, 700, 1100.... The actual consumption of our 700 watt is 1050. The 1100 watt m-oven we have consumes 1550 in use. Size the power supply to suit.
An inverter /charger is good in general. Often the battery charger in an inverter/charger is better than a stand alone charger. That can vary between brands.
If you are depending on a generator to supply 100% of the recharging power for the batteries the batteries will likely be more abused and not last as long as if a solar charger is part of the system. Reason: the last 15% or so of the charge takes as long as the other 85%. An FLA (flooded lead acid) or AGM (sealed) battery needs a couple hours or so charge at a low rate of charge to get it to 100% full. Or even close to 100% full. Full should be reached every day if possible; no less than once a week for certain. When an FLA is left in a partial discharge state for too long the lead plates deteriorate. The result is the battery can then no longer deliver all the power it used to, and it can not even be recharged to the rated capacity. Because of that slow last part of the charge it costs a lot of fuel to reach 100% full. Seldom done woith generator only supplying the power. Even a little bit of solar to finish off the charge is better than none. But again, beware, off grid systems don't enlarge easily or well. If you only charge with a generator and don't otherwise abuse the batteries a lot you could still get 3 - 4 years out of a set. Still not too bad if they are golf cart batteries bought at the Costco / Sam's Club pricing.
IF you are certain you will run LED lights, charge the laptops and that's about all, I believe the Sure-Sine with two 6 volt golf cat batteries will be a good match. IF you go that low power route, a charger like an Iota DLS-30 would be a decent choice.
A small inverter generator could supply 120 VAC power for a microwave on a start up the generator every time you want to use the m-oven. That could get tiresome. ??? A 2000 watt model most likely. And check the specs before buying; with a generator the number in the model name, as EU2000, is usually the maximum surge power. The continuous rated power of that one is 1600 watts.
Geeez Don.
And to think you guys carry all this in yer heads.
OK, I think y'all have given me a solid direction.
I'm going with only two batts.
Even if I end up spending a grand, I'll just haul it over to the shop when I upgrade....once the shop is in existence.
I do have a larger jenny for saws and such, but the noise...whoa
I'll be back with more questions (hopefully not the same ones.......)
Thanks again
wow..cool gary. You got your place sold that is huge. Now the adventure begins...learning through doing..congrats on making your dream real.
Woodshed..ha... I just got something up this year as well. The reality is that I think when i piled the wood in pile (to shed water) and put a tarp with tires holding it down it seemed to have worked better keeping wood dry then my new skidable redneck/repurposed tin roof shed. maybe i'm wrong though sometimes its tough to look back when you need to keep your eyes on the horizon...bt winter is a good time for that kind of reflection. My best to you gary...woot.
Is pressurized water and refridgeration part of your electrical needs?
no
not this year
it is a dream for one day
got sumpm simple?
Quote from: speedfunk on February 02, 2015, 10:45:54 AM
wow..cool gary. You got your place sold that is huge. Now the adventure begins...learning through doing..congrats on making your dream real.
Woodshed..ha... I just got something up this year as well. The reality is that I think when i piled the wood in pile (to shed water) and put a tarp with tires holding it down it seemed to have worked better keeping wood dry then my new skidable redneck/repurposed tin roof shed. maybe i'm wrong though sometimes its tough to look back when you need to keep your eyes on the horizon...bt winter is a good time for that kind of reflection. My best to you gary...woot.
thanks, speed
don't know if I'm excited or skeerd
definitely has the heart a pumpin'
You could go with an Proprane fridge and freezer. People use a 12 volt RV pump, instant Proprane heater for a shower, and a filter for drinking.
looking at propane water heaters for the hand held shower
not impressed with what I've seen so far, rather mickey mouse
got a good one you know about?
I use the Marey 10l and a neighbor has a very similar one. Both require no electricity (just a couple D cell's which last a long long time) and the RV pump will work fine (it's what I did for a long time).
I filled a 55gallon food safe drum with potable water (can buy them at a local Ace for $35) and the Surflo RV pump to provide the water pressure as well as the Marey hot water heater :)
Was great to have a shower!
The RV type water pressure pumps do not use a lot of power in total as they do not run very many minutes during an average day. They do draw something like 7 amps IIRC, so that is something to take into account. Still, if you stayed away from using any 120 VAC devices that consume large amounts of power, two GC-2 batteries would work as previously discussed.
One of the reasons I decided to stay away from on demand water heaters is our particular part time application. On demand types can be difficult to drain or blow out completely to prevent freeze damage. Then there was/is the issue of where to mount it; many of the smaller types are meant for outdoor use only... freezing temperatures bring issues again even if you are there full time. You can build work arounds... So I went with an RV water heater; non approved for residential use mind you. It has it's own issues like taking up a large amount of under counter space, having one face open to the weather with attendant heat loss.
Refrigeration: propane works but the fridge is costly and they do burn propane, maybe up to 1 LB. a day. Maybe less. Depends on cabin interior temperatures. Depending on how large a fridge you need or want 12 VDC can also be viable. On the smaller end Truckfridge has a 4.something cu ft 12 VDC that works well. There are also other brands that are a little more efficient but cost more. We have one in the trailer and I'd buy it again. Runs fine off 2 golf cart batteries with some every other day generator time, although I tend to run the generator almost daily for a hour or so in hot weather. I want to add some PV solar to cut that down, maybe eliminate it. But in no rush.
On the larger end there are 12 VDC Sunfrost and Sundanzer; larger both in capacity and cost. But you'd need more batteries and should have solar to make it worthwhile, IMO. And there is always the converted chest freezer thing where you use a special controller to make the freezer maintain refrigerator temperatures. Supposed to work well, but you have to be okay with a chest type unit and have the floor space required. And lastly, when there is sufficient PV capacity coupled to sufficient battery capacity you can simply opt for a regular household refrigerator. A high rated efficient model to be sure. With the falling PV panel prices that has become a very workable choice for full timer off grid use.
Quote from: Gary O on February 02, 2015, 07:15:58 PM
no
not this year
it is a dream for one day
got sumpm simple?
Gary Downsizing is good but keep in mind what you will have the future. There are certain amenities that are a necessity that you probably do not have now but will most likely try to incorporate later. With that being said try to build a system now that will take all of this in mind. I know I haven't given you the "sumpm simple" but a little from experience. Personally I could have went with a smaller inverter but I wasn't sure what I would have later so I opted for the Magnum 4400. Why Magnum is that they offered a 240 volt output whereas Outback did not w/o the purchase of two and stacking them. I would probably go for something in 24V or 48V system. In my planning stages most 24V system users stated they would have gone w/ 48V if hindsight was 20/20.
Well, let me back up a bit.
I have much to build.
I really really just need lights.
We've roughed it before.
We're not going in totally blind.
now
Back to the 'much to build'
I have an addition to the 2nd cabin, a utility shed, and a shop to build...this summer.
Hunker in for the winter
Then, in late spring (or earlier if that winter w/be like this one, 48°F today) add to the shop and start the main house, while dabbling with establishing a sea berry crop in the meadow.
The main house w/be a s-l-o-w step by step project.
What we've done so far is just play.
The main house will only be 600 sf, but have a partially covered wraparound deck, and built like a fortress.
That's the place that will require all the juice I can put together.
It will be one great room and one other room, windows everywhere.
I really really don't wish to overdo it in the cabin we will be in at present. Minimal amenities.
But I love you guys for what you're saying, and appreciate it.
The wonderful thing is, I won't be 'going' to work.
Reading the thread and thinking that maybe what we need is a section in the forum for "Solar" for newbies/noobs...
This is what you need~ solar panels (this size and from this company)(when you find them in anywhere from 10 watts to 300 it just adds to the confusion)
Inverter~ (this size and from this company)
Batteries~ you are getting the drift......
Maybe a sub section to it for if you are planning on running 10 LED lights, a coffee pot, a fan/heater,TV, laptop, chest freezer, refrigerator, a couple of lamps, a charge up station/dock etc....
See at this point my poor brain is already hurting and I am wanting to go grab a bottle and just drown out the grey cells....Make it simple so we can all understand it...
Quote from: Texas Tornado on February 04, 2015, 09:03:23 AM
Reading the thread and thinking that maybe what we need is a section in the forum for "Solar" for newbies/noobs...
This is what you need~ solar panels (this size and from this company)............
Unfortunately it is not quite as simple as that. Peoples needs and wants vary from the simple through to the more complex. What I need to run our home is quite different from what runs our cabin. And what runs
our cabin is quite different from what one of our friends' needs to run
their simple weekend retreat. Add in varying degrees of sunny and cloudy overcast weather in different parts of the country, higher temperatures and lower temperatures, trees in the wrong place, and it becomes mind boggling.
To build a system you will be happy with, that will serve for years, starts with knowing how much power you need. That is a stumbling block for many. Without knowing that nobody can make intelligent decisions, nobody can make intelligent and accurate recommendations. As much as I would also like to be able to say "do this, do that" that's not going to work well. It'll be too large for some and too small for others. Making a small system bigger after the fact does not work well.
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun is an established alternative energy vendor. They also have a great forum (http://forum.solar-electric.com/forum.php). A lot can be learned there and the advice given is solid. But they don't have a magic list either. I don't mean to chase you off, we welcome questions on off grid here too. However, NAWS has a whole forum full of "already been asked" questions with replies from many who work daily in the wind and solar business.
I agree with Don (sorry for the hijack) but perhaps we could have a section where people describe their systems and what they use them for? Maybe that might help but as Don says there is really no majic bullet here. Best bet is to start with you electrical needs (how much, how often, how long etc) and use the PV spreadsheet to start to see what you might need.
MtDon Thank You for the link to the forum! Can a sticky be done that shoots folks to it?
geeze even the start here section is way above my head :( http://forum.solar-electric.com/forumdisplay.php?18-Solar-Beginners-Corner
Anyone willing to adopt me and teach me? ???
Quote from: OlJarhead on February 04, 2015, 11:39:22 AM
I agree with Don (sorry for the hijack) but perhaps we could have a section where people describe their systems and what they use them for? Maybe that might help but as Don says there is really no majic bullet here. Best bet is to start with you electrical needs (how much, how often, how long etc) and use the PV spreadsheet to start to see what you might need.
Man, I agree.
No hijack, just a side road, a very important one.
A thread with electrical needs and you pros addressing them w/be great.
I'm with Texas T, too easy to get off on a bunny trail...and get lost.
I sometime size solar systems at work for projects arround the world, its easy to get lost with % here and % there, an amp here and amp there.
When i was starting out I'd try and size a system do all the calcs, there are many ways to do the calcs...all slightly diferent
I'd then get either a company to quote or simply check sizes against an available kit.....ie from a supplier who has already sized panel-controller and batteries..to insure I was in the right ball park.
Even from the suppliers they'd provide a diferent calc, but often the end result was the same even though he'd used diferent fudge factors...
ie http://www.altestore.com/store/Packaged-Systems/Off-Grid-Cabin-Systems-Solar-Packages/c466/
Dont get too carried away with the tech
Quote from: UK4X4 on February 05, 2015, 03:58:30 AM
I sometime size solar systems at work for projects arround the world, its easy to get lost with % here and % there, an amp here and amp there.
When i was starting out I'd try and size a system do all the calcs, there are many ways to do the calcs...all slightly diferent
I'd then get either a company to quote or simply check sizes against an available kit.....ie from a supplier who has already sized panel-controller and batteries..to insure I was in the right ball park.
Even from the suppliers they'd provide a diferent calc, but often the end result was the same even though he'd used diferent fudge factors...
ie http://www.altestore.com/store/Packaged-Systems/Off-Grid-Cabin-Systems-Solar-Packages/c466/
Dont get too carried away with the tech
Click the link and the first thing there is: The solar packages listed below contain
up to 1,000 Watts of solar panels which are ideally used as off grid cabin systems. So is this one panel or a dozen and what is the wattage per panel (like I understand that)...
TT
So, for all appearances sake, we sold the house...again.
This is only the third or fourth time in the last month.
Seems we attract kindly looking, well meaning folks with little blots on their record, like, ohhhh, sayyyy ax murdering.
Our HOA rules seem to frown on the silliest stuff.
Anyhoot, we agreed to scoot on outta our place in two weeks.
(yes, we are nuts)
Now we gotta twist our activity up a notch.
Nothing has been done at the cabin....nothing.
Haven't even been there since last fall when we closed it up for winter.
We've got a bit over a week to cram the rest of our crap into the container, whip down to the cabin, lay out a spot to put the container, unbutton the cabin for spring (it's scheduled to snow there for the next few days), and whip back up, get the container mover to load it up and point it in the direction of our cabin.
Thing is, since retirement (a couple days ago) we kinda got our days and nights mixed up. Of which, when in yer sixties, seems to turn one into a shuffling irritable slack jawed zombie, sorting, packing, picking up things and putting them back down, shuffling off into another room, farting and scratching.
Meals have become sporadic.
I tend to forage in the fridge, and now I'm on a mission to wipe out whatever is in there.
Attempted to use up the homemade blackberry jam in a bowl t'wards the back of the fridge, hiding behind the antediluvian cantaloupe.
It had a skin on it.
Couldn't penetrate the membrane with a butcher knife...saving it for later. A candidate for fruit leather for sure.
Things is, I really don't have any idea what's 'good' or 'bad' in there.
Akshly, the entire kitchen is a mystery world to me.
Not that long ago I finished off what I'd considered to be an ancient salad sittin' there on the counter in a stainless steel bowl.
Turns out compost ain't too bad if you put enough thousand island on it. BMs tend to become a bit peculiar.
But, yeah, D day is here.
Gotta go from shuffle mode to scurry.
I no longer scurry well.
Lucky if I can maintain a steady plod.
Still got a good mosey.
But, gotta get my giddyup on.
I don't dare leave packing my stuff up to the lovely side of this union.
She has a tendency to heave armloads of anything into boxes.
Last move, five days before moving day;
'Dear, any idea where my toothbrush may be?'
'It's probably in one of those boxes marked misc.'
'Ah, yes, here it is, with the nest of extension cords, my set of ratcheting box end wrenches, and the toilet plunger.'
I'll do my best to type in updates as they occur...that is if my lady doesn't pack this keyboard today.....
Got an iphone 6, ipad, and jet pack.
Boy
Do I ever feel stooopid
Oh, also got an inverter/Jenny
I'll change out the oil after an hour or so of running.
Not totally happy with the design, but glad it runs quiet.
(http://i.imgur.com/q8IyJNM.png)
You have me laughing!
Interesting find on the genny, I'll want to know how it turns out.
Good luck on the move!
Quote from: OlJarhead on April 09, 2015, 07:22:07 PMInteresting find on the genny, I'll want to know how it turns out.
Will letcha know.
It's going with us today to the cabin....or, as I'm now calling it, 'home'.
Not real happy with the oil plug location, as it's tucked in behind the plastic housing, requiring the fingers of a four year old, or a universal double jointed plier, when changing the oil.
And there is only one...oil goes out where it goes in.
Funny, when you work with design engineers and marketing folks for three decades, you can almost see how things transpire into a goofy design.
I can well imagine Ryobi jumped on the band wagon to get an inverter/genny version on the store shelves and snag a piece of what's become a hot market.
Then realizing, in midproduction, a main feature of their competition was 'quietness'...considered the 100,000 engines on the assembly line, the time frame of the market window, and whipped up a thick plastic housing, along with handy sound dampening pads stuck to the inside panels, diligently capping off the cobbled fix with tiny tedious screws to secure said panels.
I'll tell ya, I do believe what's left of the discerning portion of my noggin' has also retired.
I reviewed Honda (of course), and HFT, Yamaha, Ryobi, and about four others.
Danged if I could remember which I liked better, so went to Home Dopey and grabbed the one in front of me.
They asked if I wanted the extended warranty.
'How much?'
'$130'
'ahhhhhhahhhhh hahhhh hahahaha...no'
I'll use the 90 day no questions deal
Not real fond of the bright green color, but s'pose I'll find it in the dark.
It is quiet, so I'm in hopes that we will be able to read by the glow of a sixty watt bulb without screaming
'WHAT?' in each other's ears while we lay in bed.
Oh, it has a handy pull out handle and tiny plastic wheels of which have an endearing design feature that enables one to drag the genny behind on its side when strolling thru the woods.
Well, it's getting to be 6 am here, and I've got to find my underwear.
My lady sez she thinks they are in box seventeen.
"My lady sez she thinks they are in box seventeen"
after 7 international moves since 2005...I know that feeling !...bare with it -things will get organised soon enough....
I soon learnt to pack my own shit so I could at least have what I wanted where I knew it was ....I think our last pack was a 40ft high cube and 280 box's...packages
The dogs had to be carefull too where they slept
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1557483_785803068115028_1839165851_n.jpg?oh=167f722090a59ae8816f92cca9501ea7&oe=55AD8B74&__gda__=1437671568_dd1461c48c293faa20f47fa5631fbde5)
HAH!
a world travel weary Weimar...love it
I have the Costco Inverter Generator that has a supposed Yamaha engine. Uses more oil than I thought it should. Not fond of going out to the generator shed to shut it down when it is below zero, so I ran door bell wire to the of swich and connected it to a door bell button at the cabin. Might want to do that after the 90 day warranty is up.
You will have to excuse me. I have a touch of A. D. D. And when posts get long and technical I have a tendency to skim or skip all together but I wanted to add my thoughts on led lighting.
I find the idea of buying every expensive led 120v Bulbs to run off batteries requiring an inverter which eats up more power to be senseless... Bordering on wasteful. Go to eBay or Amazon and you can find 100ft rolls of adhesive flexible led strips intended for auto and motorcycle applications. You can cut them to any length you need, stick them anywhere and run them directly off the 12v power source with no loss. I built a small shelf type deal at the top of my walls and stuck them on the top to hide them from sight and they shine up the ceiling. Have them under cabinets, and will have them run along my porch ceilings when I get that far
Quote from: CjAl on April 12, 2015, 08:48:48 AM
I built a small shelf type deal at the top of my walls and stuck them on the top to hide them from sight and they shine up the ceiling. Have them under cabinets, and will have them run along my porch ceilings when I get that far
cool
Thought I better let y'all know what I'm doin'.
No pics yet (my computer is in the shop), but dang, this offgrid thing ain't such a bad deal.
Got this little 2K watt genny/inverter for sensitive electronics, and boom; on line.
Here's an interesting tidbit I just found out while changing my address at my bank;
A PO Box is not good enough.
I MUST submit a physical address to my bank of choice in order to maintain or actually have an account, due to The Patriot Act.
I came a bit unglued on this banking dude...let's call him 'Ralph' (since his nametag read 'Ralph')....
Ralph has one of those forced niceness personalities.
Ralph hates his job.
He's an easy read, and I suspect he'll go bankotic (bank slang for postal) in, ohhhh, saaay, five years or less.
I may have shortened that a bit.
Ralph doesn't like being nice.
Ralph's smile is a nervously tense one.
He is the real life Newman.
'Yer kidding me!! My government sez I gotta tell you where I live in order to have an account with you??!!'
'I don't make the rules, Gary (smile)
Oh, and here's what the next debit card will have (showing me a card with some sorta embedded thingy, while smiling), and you won't be able to get one without a physical address.'
'Yer just a part of the problem, you sniveling doodoohead of a poor excuse for customer service, that takes up space here in my free country.'
I did some reading....
The Patriot Act contains a lot of words.
But
if one is intent enough, one will find what one needs to find;
Customer Information Required
The CIP must contain account-opening procedures detailing the identifying information that must be obtained from each customer.45 At a minimum, the bank must obtain the following identifying information from each customer before opening the account:46
Name.
Date of birth for individuals.
Address.47 (footnote 47 only appears if you click on it):
For an individual: a residential or business street address, or if the individual does not have such an address, an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) box number, the residential or business street address of next of kin or of another contact individual, or a description of the customer's physical location.
Identification number.48
Now I'm compelled to bring this info to my new friend, Ralph, and enlighten him in regard to what's really required. So he can enlighten others.
I may have already been in the woods too long....
Hummm!! Interesting!
Wait until you sell everything again and buy a motor home and are planing on full timing it. Banks need _______. Post offices need_______. Both real simple when you live at 516 5th Ave South Nampa, Idaho 83651. But it is not correct to be moving around like a hobo to the government. They need to be able to track you just in case you need tracked.... If you make your deposits wrong at the bank they have to alert Homeland Security & Treasury and they can and will and do confiscate your bank account. Glad we are all living in the Home of the Free and the Land of the Brave,
Quote from: rick91351 on May 07, 2015, 12:39:54 AM
.... If you make your deposits wrong at the bank they have to alert Homeland Security & Treasury and they can and will and do confiscate your bank account. Glad we are all living in the Home of the Free and the Land of the Brave,
Yup
At the turn of the century I was In Kowloon and mainland China for a few months, so I had my boss (and trusted friend) make deposits for me.
No more.
No can do.
Oh there's other ways to get that done (the idiots) but man, it's lookin' more and more like 1984 all the time.
It all just sticks in my craw a bit, and I'm not even political.....
wait.....
SQUIRREL!!
One solution to the no address situation might be The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc who offer a street address. I'm not promoting it, just saying.
Quote from: Gary O on May 07, 2015, 06:12:17 AM
.......................Snip..........................................
It all just sticks in my craw a bit, and I'm not even political.....
wait.....SQUIRREL!!
Recently here a long respected here in Idaho a Ma and Pa Mexican Restaurant found their bank account froze and confiscated. Why? Because if you have a deposit of over ten K the banks are required to fill out paper work. So in order not to require the bank to do so she would make deposits at 9999.99 or there about. An agency of the Federal Government stepped in and without a hearing - trial or notice of you are being investigated in effect shut them down. (How do you run a business with out $$$) Thank God for her Congressman who appeared like a talking head on TV or one of his minions and single handily got this mess straightened out. WOW What a super hero. He even said that the money the agency that got their money had agreed to return it. So why was it done in the first place? NO ONE ASKED....
I am so thrilled at your new friend Ralph! We so all need more Ralphs in your lives. I in fact ran in and told Ellen about Ralph - I'm jealous. Ellen who was a teller at our Credit Union loves teller stories. She says tell Gary not to discount the fact that some tellers look at money not as how they are hired to do. If you are a good teller you look at money as a commodity, you just move it around. That is what you are paid to do..... But some Ralphs do not like other people because some people wear a bow tie and jeans..... Some people are dirty and smelly and have too much. Some people wear western hats or baseball caps same wear Nike Shoes. Some people have too much money so they think - but this person over does not have enough money and should have way more.
So what does all this have to do with my quote above. Ellen says right after 9-11 they got cow herded into you are the first line of defense. If you note anything out of line you are to report them. You are to report people shuffling money. Come on we have all put seven or eight hundred in then three day latter removed the same and more for a car repair. This got the we will decide that reply........ Lots of us do not want to be political. This is way more than political - it is a way of life is at stake. The very foundations of our freedom are being chipped away at. Like the lady who ended up penniless because she would not make a 10K deposit. Ralph does not like me and my cowboy hat he reports me for shuffling money........ We carry zero debit load other than a small mortgage. Does this upset Ralph? Banks and others become upset when your FICO Score drops out of the records. This means a couple things - you are secretly making more money than proper or your dead. It can not be allowed you have zero debt load. That is not the American way - after all you deserve a big new car and a new F350 and a new Jeep and a boat not just a boat but a big boat...... This has evolved to way way more than just politics. Big Brother is here.
Quote from: poppy on May 07, 2015, 07:44:39 AM
One solution to the no address situation might be The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc who offer a street address. I'm not promoting it, just saying.
As someone that was addressless for a couple years. Per Homeland Security - use to be - do not know now. But they can not rent to you without a physical address. Does any one ever check? I bet they would if your name happened to appear on a Fed watch list. BTW Name on the watch list do not have to be you - just your name.
Here you can get a street address for any piece of property in the county. That also gets your location into the system as a location for 911 emergency services, fire medical, police. We also have reverse 911 where the county can send messages by phone or text to warn of wildfire or other potential disaster. Sure that means "they"will have your address but "they"already have you on the tax rolls anyhow.
Quote from: MountainDon on May 07, 2015, 01:25:43 PM
Here you can get a street address for any piece of property in the county. That also gets your location into the system as a location for 911 emergency services, fire medical, police. We also have reverse 911 where the county can send messages by phone or text to warn of wildfire or other potential disaster. Sure that means "they"will have your address but "they"already have you on the tax rolls anyhow.
Remarkable!! We went two years with out a mailing address nor a 911 notifier. It was not that we had not tried! Please believe me. One evening Ellen was so frustrated she just broke down.... She made such good sense - we pay taxes, we have a phone, we have electricity but we can not even vote. The phone company is just showing us on Long Gulch Road we do not even live on Long Gulch Road. We legally can not even have a Post Office Box so we were informed.
Next morning I had enough. I made the phone call one more time and this time I blew up. I got loud and cursed and cussed and I think even used the F word. Something I never do! I think it was something like I cannot even F ing VOTE. To my surprise I get a, "Oh no problem sure you can have an address." What - What I sputter...
I was informed - We do not know what your problem is. Because you can have an address. We want you to have an address for E911.
Your office has told us repeatedly - no building permit no address.... just a few weeks ago no building permit no address.
I did not even have to make the trip down the mountain to the county seat. In fact they even did it for me if I remember correctly all done over the phone. I did have to call E911 - The lady there pin pointed us. I told her about the conversation..... She sort of said 'Yepp there is a lot of stuff happening over there right now...." About two days later we were notified that the post office had assigned us a actual house address and we can loose our Boise PO Box.
We were able top get a street address at our cabin easily enough (had to have for propane and phone).
As for the rest: lower / eliminate debt load and have cash reserves not in the bank ;)
That's my thought. I don't trust them but must use them so keep a savings for the things we need it for etc...but I also believe in self sufficiency and the ability to pay for things if the bank aint open ;)
Here (Idaho), I received an address for my lot when I was issued the building permit. It was a really simple process, but I had to pay for the GPS pinning that tied my lot to the 911/emergency dispatch system. I have no cell reception or phone line up there, so I don't know how I'd let 'em know :D.
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 07, 2015, 03:41:47 PM
We were able top get a street address at our cabin easily enough (had to have for propane and phone).
How (without a permit)?
Quote from: Gary O on May 07, 2015, 05:32:08 PM
How (without a permit)?
After I blew up big time we got a address with out a building permit. E911 and Voting seemed to be the straws.... We owned the property. We are entitled to vote.... Give me an address I want the same right as everyone else! Talk about a discrimination. At least I pay my freaking taxes that help pay your wages. ;D
Other than harassing the local bankers, I been touching up the cabin, and spending too much time trying to find where I put my tools (the ones I found in the container).
Happily, whatever I have yet to find is in that 20x8x8 box.
I almost come to tears when I actually do find whatever it is I'm looking for in there.
But, life is getting better.
I built a tool crib.
I intentionally built it 4' high, so I could lift the lid and reach in for a tool.
It'll be chock full once I locate my other tools.
It is, however, a walk in affair, with a little door and everything.
It took 5 shts OSB and some 2x2s.
(http://i.imgur.com/9x8o1pi.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/w84z6Fw.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/XLGCSZS.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/GdpoYp3.jpg)
(yes, I tarp it at night and/or when rain is in the forecast, aaaand I'll prolly throw some paint on it)
My lady wanted a little wall to extend her kitchen, so I took out the french doors (I'll put them in the main house one day) and built a little partition wall. It's better than I thought it'd turn out.
Also added some pantry doors in her tiny kitchen. (cedar fencing and strips)
If the main cook wants something, it gets done.
(http://i.imgur.com/ELBPbw0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/tW5POKn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qFTju0l.jpg)
the wall also made my den area a bit cozier
(http://i.imgur.com/Va71HWb.jpg)
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 07, 2015, 03:41:47 PM
We were able top get a street address at our cabin easily enough (had to have for propane and phone).
As for the rest: lower / eliminate debt load and have cash reserves not in the bank ;)
That's my thought. I don't trust them but must use them so keep a savings for the things we need it for etc...but I also believe in self sufficiency and the ability to pay for things if the bank aint open ;)
I bank at Serta Savings & Loan... all deposits insured by Smith & Wesson.
Me and banks have never seen eye to eye... I have an acct. but only for emergencies where cash can't be exchanged or for online stuff, other than that I keep $60-$70 in there to cover the "fees" and just in case I need a tank of gas.
I've been depositing my (usually cash) rent payment into the same account for 7 yrs. and recently the bank has stopped accepting cash and forces me to write a check (which isn't available at my current banking institution) or get a money order... I understand... it's about money laundering or terrorism or whatever. The funny thing is, if I walk across the aisle and buy a $0.79 money order without presenting any identification, walk back across the aisle and with nothing more than a scribble on a reciept is all that's required to then deposit the funds... WTF??
It's all about slowin' a perp down.
There really is no stopping terrorism.
I get that.
Settlers discovered that with Geronimo.
And it's easier today than ever.
Heh, I put locks and chains on everything I deem important here at my cabin home.
But I'm not deluded into thinking I'm stopping anyone....just slowin' 'em down....so's I can get a bead on 'em.
But, yeah. The guvment's lame ways of doin' makes ya wonder sometimes.
Made Will Rogers famous;
"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts."
~Will Rogers
Quote from: OlJarhead on April 09, 2015, 07:22:07 PM
Interesting find on the genny, I'll want to know how it turns out.
It's been a month
runs like a top
gave it a real workout yesterday, all day
it shut itself down around 8p
thought it was out of gas
it was low on oil
I know better
Tiny engines run harder than their bigger cousins
viscosity breaks down
oil disappears
then it gets all ugly (rebuilding a tiny engine costs more than a new one)
but
this thing has an auto shut off
nice feature for busy (absent minded) ol' farts
it smelt warm, like hot metal warm
pulled the dip stick
oil barely registered
(shudder)
filled the oil
gassed 'er up
pull
bdrrrrip....off and runnin'
(sigh, whew)
I'll tell ya, I'm no Ryobi fan, but I could become one....
Good to hear :)
I have a lot of Ryobi tools actually. Table saw (portable) has held up well over the last 10 years of abuse (6 years of being toted, pulled, pushed and hauled around in the woods), drills last long enough to allow me to save money over the yellow stuff ;) other portable tools ditto -- my miter saw, however, is a Makita ;)
Quote from: Gary O on May 07, 2015, 11:27:46 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/Va71HWb.jpg)
I did not realize you lived in a barrel. ;D
HAH!
You a funny guy, ol' man.
Had ta use the fisheye to get it all in (huge place, ya know)
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 08, 2015, 08:12:55 AM
Good to hear :)I have a lot of Ryobi tools actually.
Well, I'm rapidly becoming a convert.
My drills are 'the yellow stuff'
My 12" combo miter saw is of the orange stuff (Ridgid still makes good tools, and you pay for 'em)
I had a worm drive Makita circular saw....bought at a used tool place....couldn't kill it...heavy sucker
Took awhile to get goin' this morn.
Sun shone,
birds tweeted,
my lady was already breaking new garden ground.
I mostly just stared at things and scratched myself.
Then
The day's plan took shape.
We had several uncoordinated piles of leftovers from various projects.
Not totally messy, but my OCD self gets all tense when seeing piles.
Got into a bit of a whirlwind, scooping up bits of OSB, shards of T1-11, 2x4 ends, and various other stuff.
Thing is, I get overindulged, and forget to take a handful of ibuprofen before I get goin'.
This maneuver causes me to eventually stop in my tracks, wince, lean on a tree, ponder life, then go again...until my back is so seized up I can't move.
Then I weep a little bit, feign like I was just shot, and make my way to the lawn chair, all the while bent over, looking like I've lost something on the ground and am combing the area for whatever fell outta my pocket.
Oh, and once the pain killer took effect, I added some accoutrements to our outdoor shower.
Our shower, up to now, was a tarp wrapped around four trees.
Now, now we have handrails, and a pallet (of sorts) floor. All from the scrap pile.
The day reached 70°F, so we took showers from sun warmed milk jugs of water.
It wasn't a choice, really.
My favorite shoes, the ones that naturally emanate an ungodly aroma, have bumped it up a notch, since I've been stumbling around the cabin without socks for the last few days, giving my feet the noticeable bouquet of a long deceased mongrel that was able to vomit on itself before passing.
As for the shower, the word 'exhilarating' comes to mind when describing how perky one can get when drenching oneself with water right when the wind kicks up.
First dowse caused me to engage in audible Tourette like involuntary shrieks, comparable to; AAAA---AAAAEEEEAAAAAAA--HEEEYAAAAA!
But this day was glorious, and we'll savor it.
Tomorrow?
Who knows?
But I'm havin' ibuprofen and eggs for breakfast.
....and my shoes are spending the night outside somewhere.
When yer off grid, there's an immediacy to most everything you do.
And, everything you do is heavy.
Gas is heavy
Propane tanks are heavy
Water is really heavy
Wood is heavy
Chopping mauls are heavy
Wet, hand scrubbed clothes are heavy
I call it 'chores'....not yer everyday gotta empty the garbage chores.
I no longer 'work for the man'
I am 'the man'
I work directly for me...and my bride.
Funny thing, if I don't do these chores, life, as I know it, is immediately affected.
Now when I worked for the man, everything was cordoned off, buffered, intangible, cocooned by power companies, regulatory bodies.
I'd flip a switch, and whatever I expected to happen happened, pretty much right away...didn't even give it much thought.
And, if the power went down, we'd just sit there and wait, maybe eat what was in the freezer, heated up by the camp stove, and play cards by candlelight....kinda romantic...kinda.
And, happily, after not more than a few hours or a day or two, the lights would go back on, we'd restock the freezer, and go on our merry way.
Not so, off grid.
I'm relearning everything I've taken for granted.
I've lost 20 lbs in three weeks.
We bucked and split a half dozen trees.
I'm worried about winter though.
Got much more to do...much much more.
But, no matter what comes this winter, I think we'll be up for it.
I'm also rediscovering what I'm made of.
Underneath this blubber is some sinew,
and hidden underneath that is the muther lode of blubber.
Oh, I'm not complainin'
Havin' a ball, really
Beats hell outta town
If we'd stayed where we were at, I'd have withered away within a couple years.
It just hurts a bit more in places.
That chopping maul has been the best exercise I've had in a long time.
My aches and pains kinda get numb when I get unkinked, and I can still knock out a cord or two in short order.
Bought a pair of Carhartt bib overalls.
I've become grampa.
Gawd I love them!
No more hiking up my wranglers ever two minutes.
So much room I think I could turn around without them moving.
Oh, I'll don the olive drab shorts when things heat up, but, man, these are grand.
The other thing I've become aware of, is my continued impatience with life's events.
Of late, the last five or so years, I've had discussions with myself, coming to the conclusion that I've got to slow down, savor what I'm doin' at present.
It's really hard for me.
I cannot seem to get my mind into the dimension of the present for any length of time.
I'm off and running, got things to build, things to clean up, things that need fixin'.
But
Of late, ever now and then, I've learned to stop, and consider.
If everything was done, and I was sitting with my woman on the deck of our oversized cabin at the edge of the meadow, what then?
Chores? Sure,
and there's that thought of tooling around in my rebuilt '49 willys pickup, seeking out old boards and turning 'em into some sorta unique pie cabinet or end table in my shop...wait, I think that'll last awhile...at least until I give out.
Can't wait
Gary, that was wonderful! No words...
my pleasure
(I sense you are in the same boat...or maybe at least on the dock waiting to board)
[cool]q
We're gettin' tired
The woods haven't won...yet
Our new goal is to get our first winter's wood in under our own steam.
Thought we'd have to buy it this year.
Nada
We're gonna knock it out.
I figger 10 cord should do it, maybe less if we damp our Earthstove attentively.
Whilst we fall, buck, split, stack, we also drag all the limbs and rotting dead fall into a pile.
Our main goal these last couple days was to blaze a trail to the meadow in order for the Jeep and trailer to haul the slash piles out there.
We were gonna burn 'em where they are, but the last three years have yielded little to zero snow, so it's to the meadow, away from the trees...and cabin.
Previous years we did some burning, a slash pile here, a slash pile there.....didn't know we were just playin' at it, thought we were workin'.....heh (wheeze).
Also, while we're logging the land, we are meeting our other goal of a 'park like setting'.
.......never really fully considered what actually entailed creating a @#%!# 'park like setting'
Here's some pix;
Got wood
(http://i.imgur.com/3R6QaRt.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/CjZnTak.jpg)
Got piles
(http://i.imgur.com/hjvvdPq.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/KrpeMk3.jpg)
Got park like setting
(see the three deer?)
(http://i.imgur.com/GTzYeRJ.jpg)
Got un park like setting
(http://i.imgur.com/vqfgmQY.jpg)
juuuust kiddin' about three....only one deer (heh heh...sorry)
Quote from: Gary O on May 07, 2015, 05:32:08 PM
How (without a permit)?
Don't need no stinkin' permit -- actually, you don't. That is, if you want to live in say a trailer which is legal...or various other things. All the address does is give you an address, then you have to take that to the post office to get a 'postal' address.
Not so here.
Gotta get a permit to build, and to get a permit to build, ya gotta have a perk test, and on, and on (they just want my money)
Heh, I've been told a couple/three times to just ask the post office.....our post office can barely afford to put the mail in the PO Box. They say to get with 'planning' and even gave me a number to call, and who to talk to. I called.
Gary do not forget to complain about 911 and your right to vote..... Get civil upset squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Compost toilets are not legal there? How many hippies and homesteaders up and down I-5 still have an outhouse.
You are correct they want your money and anything else they can get......
Years ago, another property, another county, I inquired about composting toilets.
They flat out said, 'no way, no how'.
I checked the regs.
Under federal rule, composting toilets were (and are) very legal, and the feds overrule the state or county.
I will go composting or incinerating toilet, or whatever (other than the archaic, bury, leach, depoopify, that's so predominant at present).
I'm just a bit frustrated at it all, even Chase Bank.
I don't have, nor will I dedicate any time or effort to try to 'fix' things, but choose to stay under the radar as much as possible, play the game (a bit) and do whatever the fook I'm gonna do....without pissing off the neighbors.
We are improving the land, and minding our own business.
The rest be damned
My point being that you aren't building if living in a trailer ;) which IS legal. So ya tell 'em "I'm going to live in my trailer, and need an address for my land ;)"
Should work...and gee whiz Wally, seems after you got the address you changed yer ol' mind and decided to build after all! :D
I gotcha
There's many ways around an obstacle, ain't there
A part of me wants to not be so selfish, and fight/campaign for the betterment of those that come after.
And I may.
Depends how hard they push.........
The trailer here they will charge you to do so - yep even on our own land. That said it is nothing like permitting and perking and_______.
Us they never did - the old couple that got their home condemned because no permits and were not built to code nor any way to put them to code. (A neighbor turned them in.) But the guy who this happened to called me and wanted to know what they were charging us to live in our trailer. I told him zero... OOOPPPSS! Then he did go into orbit. But our power was in - our septic tank was in....
Little bit of a reality check however and not being a 'dooms dayer' or trying not to...... But what is going to happen when all this trillions of dollars of debt never mind that - the welfare state collapses... never mind that. A disaster strikes... solar flare - a emp and any combination of above.... The houses being built today are not going to be workable, liveable nor salvageable to live in if the power goes out... if the utilities are gone. Okay the dooms day economy tanks this time for real. No bail outs - we tried that it did not work.
So where am I going with this thread drift? Strangely a eight foot deer fence around my orchard and back to Gary and his small cabin study, Jarhead's place and Mountain Don's and our old - old - old building inspector Myron who sat down up here one time and said about all this crazy building and inspection. There is a code any fence built over six feet has to be inspected. Myron and I talked and he said you know I am sick of it. Why do I have to inspect your fence. What am I to inspect it for? To me this is not what they were writing this law about. It is a solid fence that might blow over in a wind. What you have here is a net to keep critters out. Myron wondered to me that day ..... will they be still requiring him to inspect what ever people will be living in when things go to hell in a hand basket- the cardboard dwellings and dug outs and lean tos. Who is going to tell someone their wood fire is not correct? Myron was beginning to see the practicality of inspections and codes and enforcement for people just living and surviving. If people need to live in a dug out a soddy or a card board box. So be it - there almost needs to be a type of culture allow-ability code if we must codify it. He went on wondering and talking..... Very well might be small - to very small will be the only way to survive. So should we not be learning how to do that?
So far, only Chase hs given me grief in the no street address dept.
I just may cause a stir with my friend, JP Morgan. He's a crook, so he should understand, right?
Speaking of grief;
I've been getting severe back spasms in my lower left area on a regular basis.
Doesn't take much, just a reach out at a low angle and the next thing ya know, I'm writhing on the ground like a newborn rhinoceros.
Went to town yesterday, and noticed in the reflection of a store window that I was listing a bit to port side.
I've seen old codgers walk like that, all bent in more than one direction, elbows extended at 45°, arms flailing like they were cross country skiing with invisible ski poles...just in order to successfully mosey to the car.
So now I'm stretching when these spams occur, arms straight up, like a newly converted born again Rajneeshi.
One shouldn't really do this in a public restroom, I found out.
Speaking of restrooms, I seem to get these spasms at very inopportune times, like say, when proceeding to apply tissue.
I'm a right arm guy, but leaning too far west begets the spasms...not good to scream in a public stall.
However
I've discovered that my left arm is not the mentally challenged appendage I thought it was.
Oh, I know my left forefinger has developed the mental aptitude of an earthworm from the evolutionary process of nasal exploration beginning at around the age of three, to, sayyy, around the age of 66, but up to now my left arm was just happy to find the appropriate sleeve without it's alter ego brother's assistance.
I think I'll use it as the lead arm when using the chainsaw today.....
I'll let ya all know how this turns out....
Keep a fire
Quote from: Gary O on May 29, 2015, 09:09:02 PM
...Speaking of grief...
Sounds like nerve pain, maybe sciatica?
I get the same kind of random spasms, normally when standing talking to someone and I lean a certain way. My whole body jerks and I let out a little yelp, makes people look at you in a strange way, reaching for their phones to call 911. Then I just say, "I'm fine... just time to sit down is all".
In my case, surgery is in a couple weeks... herniated disc. Was it you that also had some back surgery?
When this happens I go to a back cracker -- a young one who does sports med as well as back cracking - and within 1 to 3 visits I'm back to doing what I do without the pinched nerve.
Quote from: Adam Roby on May 30, 2015, 07:36:51 AM
Was it you that also had some back surgery?
No, never gone under the knife....yet.
But, yeah, thirty or so years ago I dead lifted a small pallet of solid steel and set it on the pallet rack (the forklift was seven paces away, but I had to adjust the forks, s-o-o-o).
Felt and heard a sickening crunch in my lower back.
Didn't tell anyone.
Today...I pay.
I may very well go to a back cracker.
However, two months ago, when we started moving large furniture and all our earthly possessions...twice, I weighed in at a svelte 267 lbs.
Since then, and after falling, bucking, chopping wood, I now tip the scale at 238.
I believe my once bulbous gut has been pulling at my lower back, and this spasm ordeal will abate some when I drop another 20 or so lbs.
I've been in this position before and lost considerable poundage...and the pain.
But
I was ten years younger.
Back then, the doc gave me a muscle relaxant.
I said, 'no, Doc, I'll just suffer through'
He said, 'it's not for you, it's for your wife...so she can get some sleep'
'oh'
Thing is, these spasms have a way of compounding, and if I don't back off the heavy stuff, I end up bein' just one big knot.
We'll see.
Takin' the day off.
If the weight drop don't do it, its yoga, guzzling water, back cracker, and/or surgery.
One thing that does give immediate relief is hanging from one of the rafters in the main cabin.
However, if I'm hangin' there one evening, and the moon begets a bat signal, then I'll know my true calling and don a cape and mask...and cane....or power chair
...and head for the mall.
Doctor told me one time to spend a year in Hawaii on the beach! But he said he doubted if the Union Pacific Railroad would like that.... ;)
Gotta beware the "back crackers", depending what the problem is that can actually cause you some serious and permanent damage. My hernia is rather large, and even simply physio causes too much compression on the nerve. I had a bit of an episode during the Christmas holidays, and since then 1/3 of my leg has been completely numb. Doctor does not know for sure if the feeling will ever come back, even after the surgery. I am sure they (chiropractors) have their place, but you really need a real doctor's advice before doing anything - that's just my opinion. Losing abilities is not something to take lightly... and it is not something you can "work through" or just "tough it out" cause that usually just leads to more permanent damage that could have been avoided by doing the right thing.
Good luck!
WOW Adam could not agree more. But the good crackers usually the ones like Jarhead talked about involved with sports medicine. Double thumbs up.... Interesting story about a back cracker - Bobby a real good friend of mine that worked for the railroad had a sore neck and back and loosing felling in arms and legs. Railroad doc sends him to the back cracker. Back cracker starts running his hands up and down my buddy's back and says you need a doctor not me. Bobby says a doctor sent me here. Back cracker says I will not touch you, you have bad bad issues. He calls the referring doc. They start screaming at each other. Bobby says he can hear this doc yelling and cussing over the phone. Next thing he knows same day he has an appointment with the neck and spine institute. They fit him in for a MRI like right now. The spine doc looks at the photos and proclaimed we need to cut on you like right now. Bobby says he wants another opinion. They bring in another doc. Doc echos the first even shows him the same spots on the MRI. With in two days Bobby has a cadaver bone in the neck along with a plate and some screws. Bobby loves the chiropractor because he really went to bat for him and got him under the proper doctors care. The good ones are good. They know who to work on and not. Chiropractic is not quackery.
Yup, there are good and bad ones in every field, including medicine. I suppose the best is to find someone who's opinion you can trust, versus those that simply want your money. My chiro experiences have unfortunately all been bad ones. My physio therapist on the other hand is the one that told me to stop doing physio... I would have just kept going and paying and causing myself more damage.
Not meaning to hijack a thread but on the topic of chiropractors I was fortunate as a young man returning from the Gulf. I went home and as asked to speak at a 'Tri-Services Officers Club dinner' by an older veteran. He invited me to his office which turned out to be a chiropractors. We talked a bit and I was pretty sceptical and he told me then: Like all professions there are good, bad, worse, better and best chiropractors. We aren't miracle workers and don't fix broken. What we do is adjust non-aligned bones, joints etc which can (and generally does) alleviate pain, help the joint recover and heal and stay properly aligned. If it takes a chiropractor more than three visits to do that then it's very possible he's not doing you any favors unless something is really wrong and then you probably need physical therapy or more.
He was the first to put my damaged shoulder back together. A shoulder that regular doctors wanted to remove bone from (lop the ends off the collar bone) but has been kept in place over the years by back crackers :) To this day it rarely bothers me but if it dislocates again I go see them.
About 12 years ago I began seeing a local guy who is the sports med guy for the local minor league teams. He's about more than just back cracking and as such has been a great one to see. He's helped in many areas with solutions to problems that normal docs just want to issue drugs for and when I pinch a nerve in the back I go see him and return to normal activity within 1 to 3 visits. So many times I know MD's would have prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxers but I've not needed either.
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 31, 2015, 08:58:53 AM
Not meaning to hijack a thread but
no hijack, just a maintained stream of info..on topic
thanks OJ
Some of you may recall our discovery, back in August, of a four tree fall down near the cabin.
(http://i.imgur.com/B2gR7qO.png)
Well, today was the day designed to do some pruning, so we'd never have to look at them again.
Good morning
(http://i.imgur.com/u9ADiAm.jpg)
Good afternoon
(http://i.imgur.com/1X7vabh.jpg)
Good night
(http://i.imgur.com/2eDwbSP.jpg)
I'd settled on the begrudging thought we'd have to contend with that humongous root ball from the four tree fall that we'd discovered from our trip back in August, even though that ball of roots was still leaning favorably towards the hole. We even laughingly discussed a 'root cellar'.
Today's assignment; finish bucking all four.
Towards late afternoon I had about 15 feet left on the last and biggest tree.
Felt a little spring in the log.
I was just happy it hadn't plopped on the ground, and bucking would be waist high.
However
Once I sawed through the next round, and immediately after zipping off the little left over tag...SPROING-G-G-G-G! Up it came....graciously plopping the root ball back into the hole....sorta.
(http://i.imgur.com/SX0GIHW.jpg)
Kind of a weird feeling...chainsaw in hand, ready to zip off another round, but nothing was there.
I hollered to my lady to come see.
Said all she saw was me strolling out of a cloud of pumice.
I guess I could call this day 'the resurrection'
(http://i.imgur.com/55lC1Y6.jpg)
Note; that little Homelite super XL with the little 20" bar has served me well.
(http://i.imgur.com/NZJKFuc.jpg)
It's not a Stihl, or a Husqi, but has had no quit in it...since 1976.
Guess PMs really are important.
T'was a good day.
I have a old Homelite saw. Went through a couple bars. No not that kind the kind that the chain runs on..... Great saw then one day it puked on me. Took it in and paced the floor of the saw shop like a daddy in a waiting room. The owner came out and told me the news, not good - old saw. Homelite was sold and they cheapened and discontinued the lines and on and on. In other words she is a goner. We just can not find parts but I can try.... So I left it at the shop bought a new Echo not a fallers saw but of respectable size. Like a 24 inch bar and plenty of power starts easy. One fault I see or two. It has a stupid little kill switch and I was use to the larger size on the Homelite. One thing I want is not to be fumbling around with a kill switch. I want to kill it when the tree is going down and be stepping away. Second is I don't know why all saws are not set up like Stihl to service the chain or tighten the chain. But the Homelite was lacking there as well.
Then one day Al calls (he owns the saw shop.) Hey Rick I got your 410 Homelite done. I broke down in tears and made the two hour drive to the saw shop. Yes yes it is running and running well they found parts. But yes alas he had to remind me she is an old saw and does not have much life left in her..... Just look at her as a sort of back up saw. So I only pull it out for special occasions. Then once in a while we sneak off in to the woods together, just her and I and remember times when we were younger and we filled filled pickups and trailers with firewood. When we fell huge trees not these little pecker poles. I mean trees...... logs to saw and buck.... Yes those were the days.
And yes PMs are very important after a day of sawing at our tender age. The age when it seem it is easier for me just to spend life in the woods bent, over rather than standing because there is a point in there somewhere in the fulcrum for standing that lets just say it really sucks to stand up......the bone on bone in the back. The arms and hands tingling and vibrating. Dang this is living.....
Nice bunch of firewood their mate. Remember keep it dry and it will warm to well. However I usually wait until like November - December to cut firewood. Then it season firewood is like meaning like three days or three hours....
Nothing like a good saw with a sharp chain and plenty of oil and gas :)
OK, today's Husky's have a nice anti-vibe feature that REALLY takes the bite out of sawing a long time ;) But I've considered an Echo for bigger jobs since the cost is reasonable (about $800 for an 80+cc saw I think at last look).
Great pics.
Just another of a consecutive series of good days.
Didn't start out that way....
I was gonna cut brush and limbs from the skinnier parts of the tree falls, but my lovely lady suggested a breakfast nook for the front room of the main cabin...where food is cooked....where my lovely lady cooks....
Hooookaaay, why not use a couple three tree rounds and slap some boards on top...presto....nook.
I don't know about any of ya'll, but my chain saw goes where it wants to go (anywhere but straight).
I fiddled with some pretty large rounds at 28 inches long for a couple hours, fell into the root ball hole a couple times, pinched the bar a couple times, and genrly worked up a good sweat before I realized that's not quite what my lovely lady had in mind...
Went to the mental drawing board, sifted thru several episodes of Family Guy and an ancient Romper Room before I got to a vague recollection of an article in a 1967 issue of Mother Earth News, of which my lovely little lady remarked at the time that it sure was cute...
See, I don't need no 'cloud'.
I've got a whole lot more than a puny googolplex filed away in my fog bank, and more cloudy memories than they could ever store.
Anyway, I dedicated the rest of the morning to scrounging enough boards and screws to git 'er done and commenced to create as thought boogers came to the surface.
T'wards midafternoon it became a bit of a race with ol' Sol and it also became more of a challenge in the scrap material department (I will replace the 2x4 in the sawhorse next trip to town).
The table came together rather easy, but the benches, or rather seats, evolved from several disjointed attempts to incorporate a 15° pitch to the back rest, all the while making sure the thing wouldn't wobble apart during our maiden breakfast.....aaaand....to keep it within the weight of the Titanic.
(I must say right here, a well-placed 45° brace here and there really helps in keeping gross tonnage to an acceptable level).
I have a history of building things on site.
In other words, wherever I ended up completing the project that is where the item stayed, since our budget didn't allow expenditures like a crane or earth mover.
At around 7:45 pm I had four screws left to zip into the back rest and I was done...if only my third battery would've had the juice.....
Done at 8 something, or maybe 9 ish.
Anyhoot, my lovely lady is happy with it, and we will have had our inaugural breakfast by the time you read this.
(http://i.imgur.com/VKC3AHH.jpg)
Cheers, all
Very impressive, looks real nice. Was that area originally designed to house the breakfast nook? Sure looks like the right spot for it...
Seems you can fill a lot of stuff into a 10x12 area, making me reconsider the trailer for a tiny structure.
Thanks Adam
....it's no longer 10 x 12.
We added the kitchen to the back, and what we'd considered a mud room to the front, making it a sprawling 200 sf total.
(http://i.imgur.com/SKacxzn.jpg)
But yeah, the breakfast nook thought was always a consideration.
(sigh), no more breakfast in bed...
Gary ..those table and chairs looks great man!! [cool]
thanks speed
rather hot today
glad we worked in the early morn and knocked off at noon
cheers
A moment of reflection;
I've been struggling of late in being able to put my finger on how I feel these days.
We've been out here 50 days.
We've accomplished more than I thought we would by now.
My wife amazes me...daily.
I even amaze myself.
There's been a flow of activity as we both have our daily chores and our projects, some done alone, some together, but both of us resting (plopping into our camp chairs) together.
We talk of us never being so happy, so fulfilled, so purposeful.
Sure, like most, we both carry the scars of living, similar to the gnarled tree in this photo I took a few days ago;
(http://i.imgur.com/5FVmD7P.png)
But like this tree, there's a renewal.
It's so very hard to continue to come up with a regeneration when living in the hectic stream of town.
One thinks a good rest will do it, but I'll tell you now, I've kidded myself.
I've just maintained my sanity, and even that is questionable.
This place
This place..has given me a greater perspective of my wellbeing than I could ever muster within a dense society.
I'm not an outwardly religious guy, but if there is a heaven...I'd like to think it's like our little place...
Not some ethereal cloudy place, but a hands on, git dirty abode, a tangibly real place where you can see, feel, taste, smell the beauty of nature.....of God.
Yet, I have this niggling, this feeling of angst (?) that somehow, some way this prize will be taken from me.
A feeling that 'why do I get this?'...I certainly don't deserve it any more than the next bloke.
Surely God is giving me (us) a glimpse of what things could be like... should be like...
Maybe tomorrow I'll fall on a jagged tree spike and lie there bleeding my guts out while my woman is gleefully tending her garden.
Maybe today.
But
Right now
This moment
I have
Contentment
Like I've never known
Or even dreamt of
And it can never be taken from me
Thank you for reading this, fellow country folk
Thank you for the years of encouragement
I feel your sentiment and thanks for sharing
some of my best times in recent years has been sitting arround the fire with crackling sparks and smoke
holding a cool long drink
sat with my wife
while my daughter who's 7 hoolahoops arround the fire pit
and the smoky hot wings are on the griddle
the tears run as we drive down the mountain from our private lair
to return to the life that pays for those moments of bliss
Some day I'd like to just stay too and forget this "civilisation "
Quote from: UK4X4 on June 18, 2015, 08:07:04 AM
Some day I'd like to just stay too
I don't believe you'd ever regret it...
Thanks for post Gary and the window into and indeed unto life and the photo...
Thanks for that update. This rat race of a life often feels like it is going to kill me. We don't have much, so my only saving grace is hoping to get this house in the city paid off by retirement. Plan is to sell, buy something in the country on some land, a nice retirement property for 1/4 - 1/2 of what our house will be worth and keep the balance to live off of. Not the retirement for everyone, but I think many of us here see that as a nice way to spend our free time post this craziness. You just confirmed that indeed it is possible to be happy with just the basics.
'the basics' off grid, will keep you busy for the rest of yer days....
never knew squirrels hopped....just an observance from this morning's travels (not mine, theirs)
they are on a definite route, and schedule
Droppin' weight like no tomorrow.
Was in the low 260s, now in the high 220s.
Folks have weight machines, go to gyms, tread on a treadmill.
Seems the ol' chopping maul, and the occasional sledge hammer is doin' the trick...aaand a bit more productive.
We demo'd the crushed camper on our property adjacent to our original parcel.
Got real tired of looking at it.
Hate eyesores.
Not done yet, but today most the metal and goofy things s/be loaded up for recycle.
Some of you may recall these pics from a few years back;
(http://i.imgur.com/WRXfbLF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/oBpmFPl.jpg)
Much more recent;
(http://i.imgur.com/z19lJzm.jpg)
Airy alteration (room with a view);
(http://i.imgur.com/hVrc7ow.jpg)
Goin' down?;
(http://i.imgur.com/vDhqjZ8.jpg)
Bottom floor (finally);
(http://i.imgur.com/VkqKMU6.jpg)
Tada dump;
(http://i.imgur.com/dEO1cjg.jpg)
OK, using a sledge hammer is the hard way...
but
it got done
Swingin' for the wall;
(http://i.imgur.com/M5YhYJw.jpg)
yeah, I learned not to swing with my hands initially together, but let the top one slide on the down swing...but only after missing everything and commencing to do a pirouette a couple times...made me dizzy
cheers
I was lucky and found a scrapper within a few hours of my property a few years ago. Now I give him a call when I find a bunch of cra....er metal, drag it out to the main road and he swoops in and picks it up. I think he also runs an ad on the local Craigslist to make the trip worth his while, but he sure has made cleaning up a lot easier.
I suppose the key to this retirement thing is being in good enough shape to do all the things you want to do in order to be able to enjoy them.
I am on week 2 of my 7 week convalescence from surgery. I am not allowed to ride in a car for the first 2 weeks, not allowed to drive for 4 weeks, and can't lift anything more than 5 pounds for at least 6 weeks. Let me tell you, that severely limits how much you can do in a day, and I am already bored out of my skull. Tried walking on grass today for the first time, felt like I was crossing a desert and a 50 lb backpack on. I really hope I can correct all of these problems before I retire, or else the plan of being in the woods full time will never come to fruition. I can't imagine being sentenced to city life until I die... the thought alone may kill me.
Quote from: Adam Roby on June 24, 2015, 01:11:59 PMTried walking on grass today for the first time,
tried that once
ended up not walking at all, just sitting, eating munchies
Wait
I may have misunderstood............
OK, serious, you sir need to convalesce.
Follow Dr's orders, take yer meds, take it s-l-o-w
I found out slow progress is quicker
I also found out the mind actually does have healing powers.
hook up with a little Pink Floyd
You get well, sir Roby.....hear?
stay outside (the air is better...aaaand it'll bolster yer desire)
I look forward to reading of yer progress...right here
Quote from: Gary O on April 07, 2015, 10:24:02 PM
Oh, also got an inverter/Jenny
I'll change out the oil after an hour or so of running.
Not totally happy with the design, but glad it runs quiet.
(http://i.imgur.com/q8IyJNM.png)
Little genny Update;
Well, it's been 60 days of steady running (approx. 6 hrs daily).
This little girl just keep chuggin' along.
Used the big fan on some hot nights along with two PCs, phone charging, drill battery charging and four lights; not a hiccup.
Used her to power the newly installed well pump.
It labored at the max end, so switched to the 3500 watt HFT behemoth.
The only event lately has been the little rubber weather flap fell off.
(http://i.imgur.com/WCDHmuS.jpg)
I wondered when that would happen since the one they had on display at Home Dopey was already torn off.
That weak spot and the busy little area at the oil plug are the only things I have found to be design flaws...aside from those goofy little wheels that catch on pebbles and twigs when pulling it (dragging it flopped on its side) across the property.
notes from a couple days ago;
Water
Is in
It was a bit of a struggle
Had to rely on the tiny town 25 mi south for a fitting and another length of 1 ¼.
But
After gluing the wrong end a couple times, and a failed attempt at putting all 30 ft together and trying to slide all that in...
We got 'er hooked up.
But
Before all that, I woke to my lady hollering in my ear that she heard a cougar.
They've been seen in the area the last couple days, two of 'em.
Love to get a pic of one...or a rug...
So, knowing it was gonna be a hot one, I trudged around in my slippers getting tools ready while she made breakfast.
It was a good one
And a big one
Giving me a cotton mouth most the morning.
(I'm a good boy, I cleaned my plate ;D)
The moment of truth was priming.
Took about 10-15 minutes.
Then voila
(http://i.imgur.com/P7Y907v.jpg)
The little woman watered her garden, and watered, and watered, then watered some more...
Then
The water quit coming
Twice
Both times I was 50 yds from the pump.
I haven't ran for, oh, say, 20 years
Up until today.
My gait in acceleration is akin to the final struggle of a diseased yak...after wolves ate half it's hindquarters.
But I ran anyway..sorta
And shut 'er down
Our little 2K genny was at max, and she put forth a valiant effort.
I was hoping it was the little genny and not some other unforeseen horrible thing.
It was
I watched my lady water even the wild currants, as I wanted to make sure it was just the tiny genny.
I'm gonna say we ran it steady for 30-40 minutes.
That water,
that water is the coldest, purest liquid I've tasted in some time, maybe ever.
We are a notch up today.
However, not long after we did happy dances, the sky darkened and God started moving furniture around upstairs.
It rained
It hailed, hail the size of...large hail.
And it come down hard.
Then the wind picked up
And up
Trees snapped, big ones, and trees blew over, big ones.
Just missing the new pump, the big genny, the container, and the Wrangler.
It's good to have a prayerful mate.
It's also a humbling thing to watch large trees go over when in a tiny cabin.
(http://i.imgur.com/jK58CpP.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/2kMEfWU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/3FtSAhs.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ppKHQ73.jpg)
So, tomorrow I was gonna make a platform and build a tiny room.
Now?
Now I'm gonna chainsaw some trees to get to the pump and the large genny.
Maybe the day after that I'll start my jogging program.......riiiiiiight.
Thing is, we can see a big blow comin' from the east, southeast and northeast.
Anything from the west is a bit of a surprise, as Mt Scott and the Cascades shadow our little paradise.
I scurried around to cover everything, and just in time.
This one built up and kept buildin'...sheesh.
Then
It was gone
This morn was gorgeous.
I woke to coffee by the bed, layin' there all rotten spoiled.
For decades my lady would have breakfast ready by 3:45 am.
Now? I just slumber, and awake to a hot cuppa...wipe the sleep boogers and beard drool, then lay there considering what we've come to know as 'the second sleep'.
However, of late, I'm the one to trudge over to the main cabin to retrieve 'the second cup'...warming the camp pot, lookin' out the kitchen window.
This morning, as I looked out, a flittering moth caught my eye.
Thought I'd kilt it with one swat.
But no.
Those durn things don't die easy...floppin' around spreadin' it's insidious moth makeup powder all over the counter.
Smat smat smat!
flutter
SMAT!
twitch
SMAT! SMAT! SMAT! SMAT!
ooze
Carefully lay placemat over moth guts
....don't tell the little woman.
Scary storm... happy you came out of it unscathed.
How deep is your well? What kind of well is it, hand dug?
Quote from: Adam Roby on June 28, 2015, 12:44:23 PM
Scary storm... happy you came out of it unscathed.
How deep is your well? What kind of well is it, hand dug?
only 40' deep
pretty much the norm here (huge underground lake)
static level is 18'
what I've been told is it was pounded in with a sand point
sadly, the casing is only 2" so couldn't use a submersible or deep well jet
one thing I didn't install was a pressure tank, so we must shut it off at the genny
we're comfy with that for now
the pump shuts off automatically when pressure gets to 65 psi, so might fiddle with that with a nozzle....might
down the line we'll put in a real well...once we determine where we're puttin' the main cabin
Ah, there is another cabin in the works? Was the initial 10x12 (now with extensions) just a temporary housing until you worked on a larger cabin, or is the other one just an extension to what you have now?
I was wondering about the same thing on my land. I believe 200 sqft and under requires no permits, I thought of making a few different buildings all within proximity, one for just sleeping, one for cooking, etc... could be a neat idea.
That's the plan
our 2nd cabin is where we sleep
the next project w/be a pump house
then add 80 sf to the 2nd cabin
then the shop
then the main cabin...a sprawling 400 sf (I think)
Do your taxes go up much with each new structure?
In my neck of the woods (upper NY state), if you have a trailer with 3 sides showing then you are taxed on a trailer. There are many people who have essentially built a house around the trailer, making it be the foyer or entry way, to beat the tax man. One of our neighbors had a car port for years, and one day decided to add a garage door. His taxes went up by a fair amount because it changed what is was, so he removed the door and put up a tarp the following year.
if you build it, will they come?
fact #1
If you make a noise in the woods, will yer taxes go up?
no
fact #2
If you make a noise on the phone and the county is on the other end, will yer taxes go up?
yes
and that's the way it is here....
We finally got busy with the addition to the second cabin.
Moved the wood stove from the container to the new floor.
Boy, that Earth stove is huge...and heavy.
We're pushin' ourselves purty hard for retired folk, but both of us have a desire for a warm winter, and a bit of elbow room for when the snow sets in.
Here's some pics of our frame up;
(http://i.imgur.com/zTB5VqB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6hcgG7H.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/xcyihfD.jpg)
Oh, and threw together a picnic table from scraps. Got a mess of folks comin' in a few weeks.
(http://i.imgur.com/Oy6zXCM.jpg)
Guess I better clean out the barbeque...or maybe not (save the secret flavor)
Wow! Gary, your place is looking great! You and the missus have been very busy.
Nature turned my hand this year. The drought conditions in southern Idaho have finally killed our drinking water spring. I'm headed up the mtn. Mon. to meet with the driller and get a well put in. The witcher says we are at about 140ft so won't be cheap. Glad your existing well is working but yeah, too bad you can put down a pump.
Michael...
Hey Mike
Glad to know yer alive and kickin'!
140' ain't too bad for being up in the hills.
I'm putting in the wood stove now. Going out the wall. Never done that...
Will post pics of after (during is just too ugly)
Here's some pics from last week;
(http://i.imgur.com/Au5pY06.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/dYyAtp5.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6mKWdbp.jpg)
cheers
Since our move, back on April 27 (five months today);
Cleared (pick axed) land for a garden spot
(this ain't no easy feat, tearing out root systems by hand)
Planted the garden, including Seaberry trees with mesh fencing
Cleared land for the container
Cleared an acre or so into a 'park like setting'
Then cleared it again after the big storm
Bucked, split and piled five cord of wood
Blazed a Jeep trail to the meadow
Gathered, hauled and piled a half dozen rather large slash piles in the meadow
Tore down a camper by hand and hauled that stuff to the dump
Built a tool crib
Put the well pump in
Built a pump house
Took out the french doors and extended the kitchen
Added home built pantry doors and a partition
Built table/benches for the breakfast nook
Built a rather large picnic table
Built a little hazmat shed
Enhanced the outdoor shower a bit
Set up a somewhat meager Jenny powered light/elect system for both cabins
Oh, and framed, sub sided, sub roofed and finished the interior of the addition to the second cabin
Including building the custom windows
(this also included installing the wood stove, hauling that 500 lbs of steel and brick from the container to the cabin via trailer and a sheet of stout ply atop small pipe rollers)
Assisted the two families in razing the old red hovel on our adjacent property
During respites we helped our octogenarian neighbors with things such as getting their brush muncher going...then said goodbyes to the old guy a few weeks later at his memorial
(all the while doing chores, such as scrubbing out clothes by hand and hanging out to dry...and baking things...like cake...aaaaand making granola...and meals from our garden..and hauling water before we got the well going)
Somewhere in the process we lost over 100 lbs (I think we left them somewhere back in town)
This retirement off grid stuff ain't for sissys
Come on winter! Got slash piles to burn and snow to show shovel.
(http://i.imgur.com/UVhHoHb.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/U1FIg9f.jpg)
[cool] I am jealous ??? But wait I have stayed pretty busy as well. :-\ You know this retirement thing is still better than the grind...... ;)
Quote from: rick91351 on September 29, 2015, 11:56:02 PM
[cool] I am jealous ??? But wait I have stayed pretty busy as well. :-\ You know this retirement thing is still better than the grind...... ;)
Oh, I know yer busy.
Yer my inspiration.
But, me, I been sittin' at a desk for umpteen years.
And eating like someone was gonna take it away from me...
Yeah, there's nuthin' like this...nuthin'.
We eat maybe two meals a day, and they ain't much.
But it's enough.
Can't be all full and get any work done.
I'm actually getting a bit buff.
OK, actually I've developed some sorta turkey skin arm flaps.
I was doin' some chain sawing and caught sight of one in sag mode.
My mind went Geeezus! Gramma?
Heh, awhile back my brother dramatically dropped over 100 lbs, and got all post stretch droopy, all over.
Said, 'wanna see deputy dawg?'
Showed me his stomach.
Sheeeeesh.
Here's an exterior pipe pic (never done this before);
(http://i.imgur.com/HQbYRgw.jpg)
I've dressed the eaves up since the pic, with fascia and drip edge
Gary I am sure you have figured out this thing called life. It is the journey not necessarily the destination. Step back and take a look. Gosh I did that. ;D I am sure that you have more motivation but maybe on a slower pace than your job ever had. ;)
Quote from: Redoverfarm on September 30, 2015, 07:37:29 AM
Gary I am sure you have figured out this thing called life. It is the journey not necessarily the destination. Step back and take a look. Gosh I did that. ;D I am sure that you have more motivation but maybe on a slower pace than your job ever had. ;)
Man, you got that right, John.
It's a funny thing.
Never in my life have I experienced such fulfillment.
Everthing we do out here has immediate reward...and it's already paid for.
In town, it seems, one is somehow coaxed into getting high end things 'now', then paying on 'em until they aren't worth even a fourth of the principle.
Then do it all over again with faster, shinier stuff, scrapping the older slower gizmo.
Oh, there's immediate consequence to doing something without thought out here too.
Keeps ya on yer toes.
Makes you mindful.
Yessir.
Quote from: Redoverfarm on September 30, 2015, 07:37:29 AM
It is the journey not necessarily the destination.
I made a poster awhile back;
(http://i.imgur.com/TPfEL3s.jpg)
Uke's post on his infected cut reminds me of a recent event of my own.
This happened back on 9/11;
Well, I did it up good.
Found a saw stop.
My hand.
(http://i.imgur.com/klmnV6G.jpg)
I'm careful. To a fault.
But there apparently are times, like today.
I was zippin' off some wood chocks.
No measurement required.
Got in a rhythm.
Forgot....I don't have rhythm.
A stuck pig comes to mind.
Thing is, my lovely better half was up at the neighbors.
She hardly ever goes to the neighbors.
Today is nine eleven.
Fitting.
So, after nicking the large artery in the top of my hand, I kept my composure and immediately ran down the road, screaming.
Juuust kidding.
I stumbled around, muttering fond remembrances of my childhood puppy.
Kidding again.
I knew to stop the blood.
Thing is, when one uses the good hand to help the hurt hand, well, there's just no other hands.
I was rather amazed at my sensibilities during what could rapidly develop into a somewhat dire situation, by;
Sticking my hand up in the air
Pressing my fingers on the vein
Pouring water on the cut
Then pouring good Scotch on it
Then finding a clean cloth, ripping it in shreds, and tying it tight.
I stood there looking at the smart phone.
Thought about asking siri what next to do.
Then realized the bleeding had stopped.
Went back to work.
My woman got home an hour or so later.
She got a bit excited about the carnage...'OMG!...blood everywhere'.
She should be well aware of my thin skin, and I bleed most every working moment of every day.
What agitates me most is I didn't think to apply super glue.
One may ask how this could happen.
Permit me to illustrate;
Haphazardly put your left hand in the path of the whirling saw blade by placing it directly underneath while the other hand is reaching for another piece of wood.
Hurry
Deftly use the sliding feature of the compound sliding miter saw; pushing down and forward while it's wind milling (not under power) during a brief state of confusion as to what's wood, and what's your hand, and whether or not the saw is on, and what a saw is.
All the while considering changing your political affiliation.
Permit the teeth to grind into your flesh until it stops.
Wince
Bug your eyes out with amazement at the idiocy of the event
Call yourself several defamatory names
Bleed on everything
Run to and fro
Eventually sit, holding hands with yerself
That about covers it
Ouch.... about sums it up.
Something like that happens and its scary enough when in the city close to resources, but being in the middle of the woods alone is when it gets "real", as in it could actually be life threatening.
I have suffered for over 20 years from bouts of extreme vertigo. Doctors can't figure it out, I've been to probably a dozen ENT (Ears Nose and Throat) specialists over the years and every test they do shows all is fine. When I go to my land, I am very isolated... it is already a very small town in the middle of nowhere, and my land is a couple thousand feet back from the road, and I am in the center of my 7 1/2 acre lot. I am using chainsaws and other potentially dangerous tools... and when the dizzies start I literally fall down where I am and have no control of the world spinning around me. It can get scary very easily, and the wife often doesn't want me to go because I will be all alone. She's right, but at the same time that means I will never go and get the land ready to build on... so I do what I have to.
Take care out there ladies and gents!
Seems a lot of injuries occur as a result of repetitiveness or trying to accomplish thinks in a hurry. Remember I was using a scroll saw. The kind that you had to remove the pin blade to make inner and outer cuts. I just tried to slow down the blade to remove it so I could move to another area. Of course using ones thumb to stop the blade is not an acceptable way to do it. d* Ouch !!. Well after about a week it had healed nicely.
Seems in my later years my skin has lost it's ability to stretch and the slightest bump will create a strawberry and most often break the skin. ??? This is not from being careless. In my younger years I would bump things and never miss a stroke whereas now I look down and am decorating the floor with an abstract design of blood. Thank goodness my body has not lost it's ability to coagulate my life fluid.
A tetanus shot periodically is a must. I keep up with those in hopes that it will prevent a loss of limbs in the future. I try to learn by others mistakes. Fellow woodworkers share their experiences. When I get to a chore that reminds me of how they have loss appendages I actually think of them and try not to make the same mistakes.
But of course if you are going to work you are eventually going to have injuries. But hopefully they will be minor and not stop the work process. Oh yeah I buy band aids by the gross anymore which are not far from me. ;D
Winter is coming here on the right side of the Cascades of southern Oregon.
4520 feet elevation
In the 20s at night and 70s-80s in the afternoon.
Kinda nice.
Kills the bugs.
I can do finish work and keep the door open for air hoses and cords.
Prollem is, I lost a whole week entertaining folks from Texas.
Was a goodly visit though.
What opposing philosophies.
They are the antitheses of everything we do, every way we think.
It was very stimulating for me.
The premium hooch helped.
Not sure why a lady has to have more than one bracelet on her arm.
'Eeits th rayedge.
The more ya heyave own yer ahrm, the reetcher ya look.
See, ah heyave seeux of 'em. Ther twayahlve thousand dollers eetch.'
'Uh, do you happen to have any mayo for this dark looking lettuce?'
Meanwhile, back at the cabin, got about three more cord to chop before I'm in a comfort zone.
And that works for me.
Been laying out more money than income lately.
Gotta back off buying boards for a couple weeks.
Can't tap savings.
It's irreplaceable.
Using a chopping maul has been so therapeutic.
Gets the tension out.
Loosens the ligaments.
Keeps the bones from creaking some.
I've cautioned her on over doing it....
Quote from: Gary O on October 13, 2015, 08:10:39 AMUsing a chopping maul has been so therapeutic.
Couldn't agree more. Once I get a good rhythm going I feel I can go for hours.
Quote from: Gary O on October 13, 2015, 08:10:39 AM
Using a chopping maul has been so therapeutic.
Gets the tension out.
Loosens the ligaments.
Keeps the bones from creaking some.
I've cautioned her on over doing it....
Hummm!!! Wonder if Ellen might want to work out some tensions and frustrations? Sort'a gives a new perspective going to the mall or going to the maul to work out your tensions. Wonder if I report that the one is a lot more cost effective than the other? ;)
Quote from: pmichelsen on October 13, 2015, 10:12:09 AM
Couldn't agree more. Once I get a good rhythm going I feel I can go for hours.
Hummm that might not be good. Best stop and reboot!! ;)
So, I'm OK with leaving the bedroom unfinished for winter.
Too many more important things to get done before it gets so cold ya just don't want to go outside...unless it's for more wood.
Here's some pics of our living room now;
(http://i.imgur.com/7OCkukI.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6IyAOVj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Cipjrna.jpg)
I went with bigger, cut to desired width, fence boards for bedroom trim.
Haven't stained it yet, and won't until spring.
(http://i.imgur.com/dBGsral.jpg)
Things is, unfinished wood tends to yellow, and that may be enough 'stain' to our liking, since the bedroom is a tad dark.
'Course a dark bedroom becomes more preferred the older one gets....
We stained the living room with 'redwood', and that sucked up a lota light, but the windows take care of that.
Gotta concentrate on firewood for awhile until we're in a comfort zone.
Had a pile of limbs I'd set aside for making furniture.
'Had'
I fancied me in my shop, crafting those neat chairs and tables you see in wood crafting mags.
Then reality popped that bubble when considering the struggles I have with dimensional wood....
So, I made a sawbuck.
(http://i.imgur.com/rCPssd6.jpg)
And tiny wood.
...for burning
(http://i.imgur.com/4yGzx3W.jpg)
Oh, I do need to put some doors on our bedroom closet, then I'll take a couple pics of that area.
Next, finishing the siding, insulating the pump house, then building the utility addition.
So far, the days have been perfect for working outside, warming to the fifties and sixties (F) by noon.
(http://i.imgur.com/JhZB4YI.jpg)
This can't last.
WOW you have become a mere wisp of what you were!!! Lookin' good there man. Your cabin looks great as well. How cold does it get there? You get a pretty far amount of snow as well do you not? You ain't wrong about getting cold and the qick trip to the wood supply. It chilllllled down to freezing here finally. Had frost but not really freezing. At the mere sight if frost I am thinking of loading the fifthwheel and going to Az. The mere mention of such and Ellen and the dogs and the cat starts looking for her 9MM in her purse........ so might as well dig out the long underwear and the insulated coveralls and the snow boots and the snow shovel. We are here to stay.
Yeah, I'm not tiny by any means (212 lbs) but feel good, r-e-a-l good.
It got to 37 below a couple days last winter....that's 'F', as in 'EF IT'S COLD!
Haven't had a good snow for 2-3 years here.
Had 14 foot drifts 12 years ago.
Typical now is 2-3' when you can get it.
It got in the teens here last week.
An ol' boy up the road saw 7°
I do love my long handles
(http://i.imgur.com/h0hp0gj.jpg)
Gary it is funny that Ole Man Winter has the ability to change our "to do list". Happens to me all the time. My list gets reorganized with the first frost. I have tried to prioritize the most important with that being wood. Most of the time I don't get it done as soon as I would like but I am not freezing my buns off because I was doing something else that could have waited. ;D
Yeah, I'm very glad we sawed up so many rounds months ago.
Those babies just pop open into sometimes three pieces with one swing of the maul.
What's nice about having rounds on the ground, is calculating the number of pieces it'll all yield.
I've about 260 pieces (quarter rounds) still layin' in the round, and several feet of silvers that I'm gonna git after.
Starting to like pine.
Once you have enough wood for this winter, keep cutting. The newly cut frozen sections split very nicely. Then they have a whole year to dry/season. ;D I am a year ahead at this point.
Quote from: MountainDon on October 28, 2015, 01:01:28 AMkeep cutting
Sounds right, but the slovenly side of my brain sez, 'naw, not gonna do that...'
Quote from: MountainDon on October 28, 2015, 01:01:28 AM
Once you have enough wood for this winter, keep cutting. The newly cut frozen sections split very nicely. Then they have a whole year to dry/season. ;D I am a year ahead at this point.
Just a tad bit ahead of me Don. I had about 1/2 of this years wood left over from the last. Try to stay ahead and eventually I will have a year in reserve. Not really as it is a continuous process to try to stay ahead. [chainsaw]
So, it's starting to snow here.
Finally got the siding on.
Just need to calk and stain
(http://i.imgur.com/6qSGp3j.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/nzkuXzh.jpg)
Did I mention snow?
Had to thaw the darn pump once already
Easier to keep it from freezing in the first place
Insulated the pump house
Covered the pipes with foam tubes
(http://i.imgur.com/OJu7eNU.jpg)
Throw two sleeping bags on it all
(http://i.imgur.com/90zNIHd.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ouPWobW.jpg)
Gonna be in the teens tonight
We'll see
If that keeps it from freezing...WHOOPEEEE!
If not, well, that little round heater, set to low, will be its roommate.
(yes, I'll remove the sleeping bags first)
We prolly have enough wood
(http://i.imgur.com/RATbR1j.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/rTOzGVm.jpg?1)
There's more piles
But there's still several blow downs that are callin' me.....
I was going to build a little utility attachment.
Was
Bought wunna those Costco canopy/tent/garage things
$230
The lady at checkout said they tend to leak at the seams.
Bought a huge tarp
Tied it down
Quite roomy
(http://i.imgur.com/FEaqscX.jpg)
They also have a reputation for being blown over
I see why
They come with 'tent stakes' for a kiddie tent
Went to town on a hard target search for circus tent stakes
Seems there's a shortage of circus tent stakes
Bought 4' steel rods that ardy have a point on the end
And 150' of nylon rope
Drove 'em three feet into the ground at around 45°
Can't make 'em budge
(http://i.imgur.com/2izGNUz.jpg)
(not done with the tarp)
Come on wind....let's see whatcha got
(http://i.imgur.com/FBbbNZn.jpg)
Keep a fire, y'all
(http://i.imgur.com/gYAUjMV.jpg)
I'm thinking of using the Costco tent carport for a woodshed because I never got one built. They seem to work okay so long as you knock the snow off once in a while during the blizzard. With the other tarp in there it will last longer.....
My only angst now is keeping it pointy side up during a winter blow.
I first used the loops to tie it down.
Only thing, they got in the way of the tarp.
No matter how hard I configured it, there was always flappy sections that would surely become sails with the right direction of wind.
So, against the little voice that screams, I removed the ropes from the loops and now just have it tied down via girding ropes.
(http://i.imgur.com/DIWQqSk.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iMr5SN4.jpg)
So, nothing is resisting, really.
As I type, thinking tomorrow I may take the tarp off, fold it to just cover the edges, and use the loops in conjunction with the tarp ropes.
Gonna sleep on this, so hope to see y'all's input in the morn.
The other thing is, my lady is gonna go to her artsy fartsy class tomorrow and I vowed, after my last episode, to never touch a power tool that has teeth while she was gone.
So, retarping/configuring should take up the time she's away.
Or, I could just crank up ol' betsy an zip off some logs....
Quote from: Gary O on November 10, 2015, 11:07:38 PM
Gonna sleep on this, so hope to see y'all's input in the morn.
The other thing is, my lady is gonna go to her artsy fartsy class tomorrow and I vowed, after my last episode, to never touch a power tool that has teeth while she was gone.
Gary I think that is a good idea. Do I do that - no but I should. But she is sort of cabin bound right now quilting and sewing and I sort of get a little torqued but that soon passes. Just a good IDEA that some one is around to dial 911 as they apply the tourniquet. That said if my buddy is excavating over on this side of the mountain lots of times I will jump on my four wheeler and run over and do a drive by. About noon maybe stop in and say hi. He really appreciates me doing that. I tell my wife hey kid come out and check on me now and then. But .................
Well, I redid everything
Ended up cutting slits in the tarp for the ropes to get thru.
It's a learning curve...
Calling it our 'tarport'
We are in a bit of a comfort zone now
Got everything calked and stained
Pressure's off, it seems
Have the giddy feeling we're not complete idiots
Will re-assess come January
(http://i.imgur.com/XlNBvgO.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/eBJh3Pq.jpg)
Wood chopping day....never enough of that
Does feel nice to get to a place where - 'What the heck' - we so experienced that last year..... Floors were done - moved in without an occupancy permit Ellen said she was not spending another minute in the fifthwheel. It just felt good to get moved in and after a year of hitting hard to kick back and take a nap. A long winters nap. I so enjoyed that but come spring was more than ready to go hit it again. One thing nice I think about your cabin a couple cords of wood should put you through.
Quote from: rick91351 on November 18, 2015, 12:46:46 PM
Does feel nice to get to a place where - 'What the heck' - we so experienced that last year..... Floors were done - moved in without an occupancy permit Ellen said she was not spending another minute in the fifthwheel. It just felt good to get moved in and after a year of hitting hard to kick back and take a nap. A long winters nap. I so enjoyed that but come spring was more than ready to go hit it again. One thing nice I think about your cabin a couple cords of wood should put you through.
maybe two cords
haven't put a dent in the first pile
but
haven't been here for the winter
have just become accustomed to this stove
and
some wise men said it'd be good to get a start on next year
and
I'm developing a fever for it
can't explain, but some sorta euphoric feeling comes over me every time that maul makes the wood pop
I may make some wood ricks tomorrow
neaten the place up
If the wood is not fully seasoned, it splits easier when frozen. Back home in Canada I cut trees in November, December, hauled it home and then in January when things were solidly below zero got out the maul. That was the next years firewood.
Quote from: Gary O on November 18, 2015, 07:33:57 PM
I may make some wood ricks tomorrow
neaten the place up
That sort of like me as a scarecrow or a life size carving????
maybe just a little doll...with nail holes
Quote from: MountainDon on November 18, 2015, 08:18:37 PM
If the wood is not fully seasoned, it splits easier when frozen. Back home in Canada I cut trees in November, December, hauled it home and then in January when things were solidly below zero got out the maul. That was the next years firewood.
I may just do this
zip off some rounds
revisit 'em at the new year
Quote from: Gary O on November 18, 2015, 09:15:41 PM
maybe just a little doll...with nail holes
[shocked] VOODOO FREAKY MAN!!! I am so out of here till next time.... BYE
Hey, hey...whoa
The wood rick I'm talkin' about is for face cords, wood piles.
Thing is, I don't know where I got that term 'wood rick'
Either it's a tad archaic, or I'm pulling words out of the nutty side of my head...
anyway
google showed me this (what I think is pretty freaking ingenious) set up, whatever it's called;
(http://i.imgur.com/Wst5cmJ.jpg)
Quote from: Gary O on November 19, 2015, 05:47:34 PM
Hey, hey...whoa
The wood rick I'm talkin' about is for face cords, wood piles.
Well I did know what a rick of wood is ...... ;) Sort of like when I first heard it, as a kid and believe it or not we did not have internet. But I had to find out what I was named after.... Had to look it up in the encyclopedia. Way back then boy and girls if you had to write a paper or anything like that you had to spend time looking stuff up in books..... I know freaky..... and actual rick is 4X8 foot by 20 inches.... or half cord.... Then some time ago it changed to a third of a cord they sort of figure because cord wood went down to 16" rather than 20" but still 4 x 8 feet....
That is one cool idea getting you cord wood up off the ground I and going to have to do that next year.
Had to spend some money this weekend.
Genny crapped out noon Saturday.
Eu2000i on sale for $899
Got it (duh)
Thousand dollars later;
Got the genny.
Got the pump house squared away for winter to my satisfaction.
yup, Christmas came early
(http://i.imgur.com/AhTQFP2.png)
Should be done re-stacking wood this week.
(http://i.imgur.com/bXsx8bI.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/cB0358O.jpg)
just this left
(http://i.imgur.com/Hc9Qssw.jpg)
Then on to making Christmas toys for the children of the trees.
I ain't no Santy, and I got no elves, but scrap wood can become some enjoyable things if one puts their mind to it.
This winter I plan to do some reading, some writing, and some photogging.
Prolly will do some snow shoveling too.
Overall, we plan to sock some land buyin' money away this winter.
Five acres has a better sound to it than 2.5 acres....
Takes a bit of discipline to save money.
Gotta be creative in your sacrifices.
Anyway, if any of you guys get a book from me for Christmas, just know it'll be due back at the library by the time you get it.
Merry Christmas everbody
(http://i.imgur.com/gYAUjMV.jpg)
So that Ryobi Genny didn't work out? No warranty for it?
I've gotta dig out the warranty
I imagine it's just a stuck float or something
I don't have a work bench to tinker with it here, so, taking it in (....after I find the warranty)
thanks for reminding me
Quote from: OlJarhead on November 30, 2015, 12:02:40 PM
So that Ryobi Genny didn't work out? No warranty for it?
So, here we go.
I dug out my receipt and warranty.
3 yrs worth of warranty.
Bought it last April.
Called Home Dopey to see what all I needed to bring in.
Went thru the automated pick a number between 1 and 187 option tree.
Lost track of department options.
Stabbed a digit.
'Oh, you have the wrong department, you want service'
Imagine that
'Would you mind connecting me?'
'this is Lori'
'Hi Lori, this is Gary. I have a Ryobi 2200 generator that needs some warranty service.'
'well, just bring it in'
'Do you inspect/repair locally?'
'No, we send it to Phoenix AZ'
'Ah, I'll get back to you'
Thing is, I believe it's either in the carb, float, or possibly just a loose hose, can't tell.
I turns fine.
Goes a few revs, coughs, spits, quits, then emits a little sigh.
The case is so screwed down, I'd need surgery tools to open it up, let alone put it back together.
Oh, I did open the hatch to the plug.
Oddly, it's in a position that requires the hands of a three year old to get to.
Finally got the plug off, cleaned it, put it back on.
Same results.
Heh, in screwing the plug hatch back on, one of the sheet metal nuts folded over the plastic case decided to make an exit to the bottom of the housing.
Happily, there are two of them.
Guess I need to git it over to HD, since I can't find a local mechanic that'll touch it.
Is there easy access to the carb? Mine had a screw and drain hose from the carb bowl. I seem to accumulate a lot of water with the heat cold cycles pulling in air to the tank.
thas prolly it
don't have the heart to break into the case
anyone ever hear of Seafoam?
Quote from: Gary O on December 01, 2015, 08:54:32 PM
anyone ever hear of Seafoam?
I've used it. It's a pretty good maintenance product, but it won't
fix anything.
Quote from: azgreg on December 01, 2015, 09:13:31 PM
I've used it. It's a pretty good maintenance product, but it won't fix anything.
yeah, stabbing at things before I take it in
I may see if I can get a finger on the carb bowl tomorrow
Seafoam and Sta-bil are similar products. Both are supposed to prevent gasoline in storage from going "bad". I do use a dose of Sta-bil in the gas I store at the cabin over winter. I can't be sure it is why I have no issues or if it's because I start with alcohol free gasoline and drain the carburetors before long term non use. You can find many discussions / arguments on the 'net on whether or not Seafoam is better than Sta-bil. Much the same as the arguments regarding Ford vs Dodge, and so on.
I agree neither product will fix a engine fuel related problem after the problem has surfaced.
If the generator (or other small engine device) is in daily or weekly use there really is no need for Seafoam or Sta-bil. Not unless the fuel being used is being stored for months before being replenished with fresh fuel from the gas station.
When / if you get solar and don't use the Honda every day you should then drain the carb bowl after use. There's a handy dandy drain screw and hose you see after removing the side cover.
Quote from: MountainDon on December 01, 2015, 09:38:38 PM
When / if you get solar and don't use the Honda every day you should then drain the carb bowl after use. There's a handy dandy drain screw and hose you see after removing the side cover.
I shall tuck this into the file of forgetfullness
Interesting idea...what's the reasoning? I've got an el cheapo Champion that I've had since about 07 and I've never drained anything in it (except the oil to change) and it runs like, well, a Champion to this day.
My only bad experience with fuel was with an old mcculloch chain saw.
one spring I pulled on the cord til I purt near hurled my breakfast
that was kinda normal for a mcculloch
but, finally took it in to the saw shop
brittle diaphragm
gas sat in it all winter
that was in the '60s
In other news;
(http://i.imgur.com/pUgAO3v.jpg)
Y'know, since we've been living at the cabin, we've been getting some teasing and downright concerned inquiries from our town friends about using an outhouse fulltime.
I don't pay no never mind, 'cause, hehh, these concerned inquiries are coming from the same folks that crap in their house.
Quote from: OlJarhead on December 02, 2015, 12:03:58 AM
Interesting idea...what's the reasoning?
You either run it enough to not have the gas in the bowl slowly evaporate and turn gummy or somehow you are plain lucky. Some people will shut off the gas and run the engine until it quits believing that will empty the carb bowl. I used to do that with my Yamaha... it had separate gas and ignition on/off controls, the Honda EU's have both functions in one, so they can not be run dry. One day after running the Yamaha till it quit I removed the bowl. There was still a tiny bit of fuel in there. There was also a tiny bit of varnish from the many previous years of running dry. Honda engineers are cautious folks and so they provide a drain. It is very simple to use. I do wish the side panel removal was tool-less though. The Yamaha EF2000i generator also has a bowl drain as does the Yamaha ATV we have.
Quote from: OlJarhead on December 02, 2015, 12:03:58 AM
Interesting idea...what's the reasoning? I've got an el cheapo Champion that I've had since about 07 and I've never drained anything in it (except the oil to change) and it runs like, well, a Champion to this day.
I just had a long talk with the guy that owns the saw shop I go to - small engine repair and lawn and garden equipment We are both about the same age and we sort'a started together.... Wink!! Customer for about 40 years now....... Then there is the kid that lives up here and is a small engine repair - fourwheeler expert. So I listen to them both and they are very close in what they say.
What they both say has evolved greatly over the years. Over wintering chainsaws less problems anymore if you use a good two cycle oil that states fuel conditioner. Top them off less chance of condensation. Clean well and store......... but in places such as this they never over winter very long. My concern two chain saws - and a baby saw with a 12" bar. Plus a high end weed eater......
Then you get into the other stuff - we have two Troybuilt rototillers - Pony and a Bronco, a log splitter, two Honda EU2000i generators, a snow blower, a Briggs gear reduction motor on a weed sprayer. (though I try mostly organics - once in a while there is the you just can not kill it thing...) All that and with the ethanol fuels and the problems there in encountered. By far agreed you are better off spending the extra and buying the raw non ethanol fuel and still adding Sta-bil or Seafoam - (one friend he is crazy about Seafoam Marine.....). Unless you are going to run it right out - i.e. the log splitter and a two or three day marathon splitting logs....
My saw shop friend he says you would be surprised that the amount of people who what to store stuff double - triple dosed and then expect it it run well come spring...... often ends up in the shop and a good cleaning or a new carb.... Saw shop guy he anymore seems to not like to seeing them put away dry... Unless you are going to drain the bowls and let them air dry. My EU2000i's I always store them with fuel and Sta-bil or Seafoam and ready to run for the next emergency or outage. But try and start them every couple months and let them run for a while. The sprayer it gets stored dry and I over haul the carb and scream at it every time I go to use it. The two rototillers seem to like being stored with fuel.... but the .......... seem just more to think about...
So where do you buy raw or pure fuel --- http://pure-gas.org/
I have converted to leaving equipment wet when stored for the season. I mix Seafoam, Heat, Staybol, and Marvel Mystery oil in gas and make sure it makes it to the engine. Some of the products may be redundant. Lawn mowers start on second pull after 7 months of inactivity. My snowblower has steel needles and an aluminum carb. Before I strated doing this, the needles would rust over the summer and I would have to pull the carb for de-rusting. I suspect the Marvel Mystery Oil prevents the rust. I believe the rubber diaphrams in 2-cycle engine fuel pumps dry out annd crack by running the engine out of fuel. I like to leave them wet. This is particularly true for oil injected engines. I have snow machines that are 14-36 years old that have never had the fuel pump diaphram replaced using this technique.
How's the winter treating you?
Quote from: OlJarhead on January 21, 2016, 02:01:13 PM
How's the winter treating you?
been busy
Feb
Only three ricks of wood used so far
Cabin is handling the ice and snow
Got a warming trend 30s to 40s, and 50°F coming
The patch of terra firma I saw yesterday caused a sensation of euphoria to overtake me
Maybe it was the coffee
Just checking in
Oh,
One more thing
I'm no churchy, but, hey, c'mon
The sunrises at our little patch of pumice are rather moving
Causes me to wax poetic...er something;
from the bedroom
(http://i.imgur.com/Ip6kXsC.png)
down the path
(http://i.imgur.com/qQ1IU5H.png)
been busy with the Nikon;
birds and snow (4 1/2 ft of it)
(http://i.imgur.com/Rix6gBi.jpg)
there's a cabin under there...pretty sure
(http://i.imgur.com/U5hN1Rf.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ICpKSVe.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/WoBHJiN.jpg)
chickadees, nuthatches, nutcrackers and Jays
(http://i.imgur.com/YXAFjgJ.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/Grj22m1.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/5EOaGM6.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/DzkApLP.png)
and a peanut butter lovin' tree rat
(http://i.imgur.com/v8yIte0.png)
how y'all been?
(http://i.imgur.com/pRA04C8.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7p56bKS.jpg)
Wow Gray I missed your posting from January 21. Was about to set out on a drive to go and find you..... Thought you and the your lady might be stuck in a snow drift. :D
Glad to see you are wintering well in the cabin.... Does not look like you are getting much wind, that is a good thing. [cool] I mean really [cool]
Great bird photos.... well really great photos..... Thanks for the up date.....
Yeah, this bein' our first winter here has been an education.
Supposin' this winter is typical, little wind.
There've been warnings and alerts in the forecasts, but we're kinda tucked in here, and the wind seems to blow over the top of us.
Heh, when it does blow, well, wind at even 20°F will rip yer face off.
Seems the winds do come, but late spring and early fall for the most part.
The temps reached down deep to -30° F for a day or two, and stayed low for a couple weeks.
(http://i.imgur.com/vXaUQ2m.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jAvgybf.jpg)
Thought we'd be in for a l-o-n-g winter, but seems the 20s and into the 30s is the norm for highs (rather comfy after a cold snap).
The pump hut was an initial huge concern, but that little buddy heater is doin' its job (an expense I'm very willing to afford).
(http://i.imgur.com/mWRB16T.jpg)
If all holds, I think we've got this
Love ya, man
Quote from: OlJarhead on November 30, 2015, 12:02:40 PM
So that Ryobi Genny didn't work out? No warranty for it?
It's been in Phoenix for eight weeks now.
'They're in the process of deciding whether to replace it or repair it'
On the other hand, my baby EUi gets fixed locally (just another quality perk not initially seen when pricing)
(http://i.imgur.com/rt4T1kF.jpg)
You are truly inspiring Sir... glad to see the new year is treating you well.
Glad to hear from ya!
Thanks, guys.
I really don't know why I haven't camped on this here forum.
I could claim 'busy', but nights are rather open.
Now to cruise thru other threads...
Gary it sounds as if you are wintering well. Have you any means to plow yourself out if the need arises. I am forced to plow my self out or should I say plow my wife out. ;) She is still gainfully employed which means I have to keep her traveling at least for the next couple years. As for me I would just as soon stay in and work on inside projects. But then I think what if something were to happen ( besides additional snow accumulation) to where I would have to get out or someone in . Well stay warm and dry. Nice pics by the way.
Good question
We have this ol' boy down the path with a medium sized tractor and blower.
He seems to love clearing the country lanes here, and I love for him to do it.
We all pay him X amount per trip, and I settle with him at the first of every month, plus an extra X (for favoritism).
Not good to rely on others, but no choice this year.
Will be shopping for a walk behind blower next fall.
There's some kids (twenty somethings) that play around with a quad and blade, but I had to get it unstuck with my Wrangler (high centered), and it tears up the path a bit (kids)
One day I'll have a tractor, but this w/be the summer of the shop, the porch, the deck between cabins, the green house, and a few other things that'll keep me cash poor....like a Stihl or Husqy chain saw.
Man, it got to 50+ today.
T-shirt weather.
I know its early, but gettin' the itch to do things other than haul water, bring in wood, shovel snow and pick ice, and burn what we ate three days ago...
Quote from: Gary O on February 07, 2016, 09:57:33 AM
It's been in Phoenix for eight weeks now.
'They're in the process of deciding whether to replace it or repair it'
On the other hand, my baby EUi gets fixed locally (just another quality perk not initially seen when pricing)
(http://i.imgur.com/rt4T1kF.jpg)
Update;
I'd been patient (enough)
Sent this to HD two days ago, since it was so handy on their site
Hi there
Returned our Ryobi 2200 inverter/generator 12/7
Haven't got it back yet
Here's some brief history;
Early Dec
Ryobi genny craps out on me, take it in to HD for warranty repair
Early Jan
Called HD for status
'It's in Phoenix for evaluation'
Mid Jan
Called HD for status
'It's in Phoenix for evaluation'
'Been there a while now'
'yeah, sorry'
Late Jan
In town, stopped at HD for status
'It's in Phoenix for evaluation'
'thanks, say, it's been in evaluation for several weeks, is there a chance you could call down there?'
Called
'It's under evaluation for repair or replacement'
Early Feb
Can no longer recall if I called, or was called
'it's been shipped back to Klamath Falls'
'wonderful, was it repaired'
'well, the report doesn't show any details'
'OK, well, is there a chance you could call down there for details?'
Calling
'it's been shipped back to Klamath Falls'
'yes.....I know, what about details, like what did they do to fix it, or did they just throw up their hands and send it back?'
'well, sir, it's a safe assumption that it's been repaired'
'OK, when does it show to be due your dock'
'we do not have that information, but it'll be just a few days and we'll call you when it arrives'
Heh, got a message on my phone;
'it's been shipped back to Klamath Falls'....
Here's the deal;
Your customer service staff at Klamath Falls are all well trained in cordiality. And that's quite remarkable, since they are working within a challenging system.
Folks like me tend to lose confidence when not getting answers after, oh, saaaaaay.... a winter.
I do like HD prices, but customer service is big.
I'm a sucker for it.
Thinking I'm gonna shop next door at Coastal for all my equipment needs.
Yeah, their prices a bit higher, but I'm very very willing to shell out a few bucks more for service...local service.
And as far as your Phoenix operation? I suggest you show 'em that little motto of yours.... 'Let's Do This'...maybe it'll sink in.
It would be nice to think your upper echelon folks, corporate deciders would get together to see what can be done in regards to shipping info (tracking numbers) and actual product status.
I know it can be done
I used to do it.
All the time.
World wide.
Have a nice day
Gary O'
Got a call from the local operations manager today
Getting a brand new (off the shelf) unit
Heh, since he was so apologetic an all, I almost asked if he'd trot over to Coastal and get me another Honda instead....
Anyway, got a (pretty) good backup for when I get baby EUI serviced
Gary I feel your pain and frustration. 2nd complete generator and working on a resolution with Generac on the replacement motor for the second one. Their customer service was good to begin with but has went down hill since. I think the biggest problem is they don't have a solution for this particular model. They have been having problems with it and have yet to come up with a working solution. Right now it has been nearly 60 days since I filed a claim. I will fire another E-mail shortly to inquire but right now you can't even get to the cabin . So as they say " be patient my son" ;D
Good news - but I still hate HD. Was there yesterday because needed a cheap piece of fired tile to make something. It is going to get cut up - just a 12 X12 tile that is all I wanted. Several in the 89 cent special close-out - clearance tile bin. None of which have a skew. I may not know much about big box marketing but the first thing on me list is thou shalt never take something to a till without a skew. It will shut down the one of twenty three tills they have maned. The seven to ten people standing in line will blame you.
I asked a friendly knowledgeable store associate if they could assist me in this. Now granted they were not from that department. I knew I was taking a chance. I explain I would like to purchase this piece of tile. However it does not have a skew..... So we walk clear back over where the tile department is. I show the associate the bin I fetched it from...... They look at me and say well some one opened a box. A there is several pieces of tile stacked there. I explain that is correct - they are usually the returns and the ones from when people only need say like six or four or one.... You never have to buy a whole box it is sold by the sq ft. The associate is now looking at me like do you make this up as you go don't you......
Their attention quickly diverts and centers around the bin that held the 16X16 same pattern but is empty - I pry their eyes away from there and back to the 12X12 bin. They read the tab and start copying down all this info and I am thinking they are going to walk me up to a service desk and explain. The next problem for this knowledgeably knowledge associate is figuring out how many sq ft in one 12 inch x 12 inch piece of tile. Hey I am not making this up. Really a 12 x 12 is one sq ft. The associate is again looking at me like do you make this up as you go right?
I just shake my head and put the tile down and tell the person thanks but all I need is one 89 cent piece of tile. I will run over to Lowes..... I really do not have all day..... Now lets all sing I hate Lowes..... I find the cheep tile bin - WOW it has a skew!!! So I walk over to the aisles where they in the start of heating season have all their stoves and stove supplies.... A knowledgeable associate walks up to me..... may I help you.... I knew he could not because all that stuff was now gone but they had a huge display of patio tables and BBQ's. Wood stove glass cleaner and might you have some a tub of furnace cement or hearth mortar. Oh heck no we packed all that up a couple weeks ago. Like I was supposed to run over and admire his patio sets and BBQs.... I did not.... Then he says your just going to have to wait until next fall. Well I did not have time for that. I cant give HD all afternoon doubt I will give Lowes 7 months....... ;)
Really do people really 'trade' in those places? I so like my lumber yard and its hardware store. I walk in say Hi someone takes my order or listens to my ideas for what I think I might want. They know I'm Rick and they know I live at Prairie and they wonder about the drive in and out and ...... seen any elk or big deer or wolves or been fishing? They disappear and the owner and I talk. The stuff shows up on the counter. No that aint it we wonder back in to the plumbing stuff I think I need this and the knowledge associate say no if you do do that it will not work because of....... But we can do this..... Its all over that quick. If there is no skew that is okay they know where to find it. And seasonal products are available year around.... But they don't sell tile...... and they are closed on Sundays..... Novel old fashioned thing closed on Sundays..... I can order stuff from their suppler 24 / 7 from home shipped to their store. Drop in - grab a cup of coffee and look around...... load up see you in a few..... drive off.... get the bill in the mail from them once a month if you are a trusted customer all in home no credit fees or interest.... I pay bills once a month ..... no bill from them..... I call them up talk to the book keeper (owners wife) Hey never got a billing from you guys..... Oh you only owe like $50 so I never sent it out - will catch you latter when you get some more on it...... Next month $366 something..... and the like $50. To me that is the way to run a business.........
Well, there are folks in the big box stores that can and will do things.
Got an email from the K Falls OP;
Gary,
Once again let me apologize for having to wait for so long to have your generator shipped back. We are going to go ahead and return the unit you had shipped out for repair on order number 171446 and get you a brand new one off the shelf. I have cc'd every manager in our building so that when you come in they are all in the loop. Thank you for your business we really do appreciate it. Have a great day.
Russell
Funny thing, we arrived at HD the next day.
'Hi. We're here to pick up the warranty replacement for the Ryobi unit we brought in back on Dec 7...here's the paperwork.'
'Do you have the original receipt?'
'No, but here's the warranty paperwork you guys said to bring with me'
'Well, I need to know what you paid'
'trick question; why?'
'because the screen needs this info'
'let me get this straight. If you punch in saaaay $599 we can move forward?'
'Where's Russell? He said he'd be here.'
'he's not available, just a minute'
I believe the much used 'just a minute' tactic is employed when folks like me begin to show signs of agitation...like the steam coming outta my ears.
She got Dave
Dave hit three keys
We're on our way
I like Dave
Home Dopey? Not so much.
New HD motto 'Let's Do Them'
two months to 67
hehh, sixty-seven
couple candle laden cakes from starin' at 70
remember back in the year '67
laughed our hind ends off at thinking we'd even make it to 2000
didn't care
now?
Now I care
Kinda
Winter here at the cabin consists of haulin' a toboggan full of water jugs from the well a hundred or so paces at the south end of the property, bringing wood in (thankful we chopped/split what we did, when we did), shovelling snow, chipping ice, and burning poop.
And taking pics
Concentrating on the local birds now
The juncos come in flocks, ground feeders
The jays come and survey, peck at the ground, never quite grasping the suet cage theory. Great personalities, these birds. They often cock their heads in what seems WTF moments.
The nutcrackers have all but taken over the suet bricks.
The chickadees and nuthatches (my favs) get the droppings, but have their main course on the brick in early morn and evening.
(http://i.imgur.com/lgvHcAf.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/QdD9o99.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/5ucfm0n.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/lJGJgMR.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/VFdNi5E.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/wTiAM5s.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/w3CaTg0.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/yZQWFV7.png)
Nutcrackers are not early risers
(http://i.imgur.com/zdGgeOw.png)
The shyest, so far, are the two varied thrushes.
I'll get a good pic one day, but only by chance.
(http://i.imgur.com/BNygjQF.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/mGNpZeY.png)
The crows have disappeared for the winter, seems.
I miss their incredulous caws.
One day last summer, a flock of maybe a hundred or so flew low overhead. A great slow flap flapping sound.
Incredible.
Stopped me from roofing for awhile.
This, this retirement gig is as much or more than I'd hoped.
Happy for that.
Sad for folks that live in town.
This cabin living thing is about getting back in shape.
Not trying, really.
Its just what happens here.
Heh, after losing 50 lbs, I discovered a bit of sinew, in places.
The other thing is hangy skin.
Not in the places I imagined.
My gut is tight.
But
the underside of my arms are, well....
Scared myself a couple times while splitting wood with my shirt off last summer.
Glanced admiringly at my arm while raising up the maul.
Immediately became horrified, seeing what appeared that my scrotum had somehow flopped up onto my bicep.
Oh well
Way it is now
The kiddies that come visit in summer still seem to admire this grizzled ol' coot. And my lady does too..of which, that's all I ask.
The deer have gone to the valley for the season
I'd fancied setting out salt licks upon their return in preparation for fall diners
But
Can't
Oh, I'll still shoot 'em
But with my Nikon
Yeah, all settled in to this way of living
Can't imagine any other way now
I'll die here
But for now
Got a whole lotta livin' to do
Oh, one more little guy enjoying the suet
.....we call him 'Nutzy'
(http://i.imgur.com/bYgnquj.png)
cheers
(http://i.imgur.com/JeVVI9P.png)
Can't find the LIKE button so [cool] it is.
Gary can I borrow a cup full of
Yeah, all settled in to this way of living
Can't imagine any other way now
I'll die here
But for now
Got a whole lotta livin' to do
Really it is about the best Gary O I have ever read.......
I would like to keep it in a jar and store it in the pantry. And when I loose sight of where I am, who I am and where I came from to get here. (More that one miserable all night trip......) I might open it up - let it out to remind me...... Or I might toss it on or pour it over my 'kin' when they tell me I am suppose to give them a spot to vacation - or to live. ;D
Thanks guys, but y'all got nuthin' ta say.
I cruise yer threads, y'all got it goin' on.
Just glad to flavor this site some with a little O' spice.
Anyway, I'm getting' antsy for a quick spring thaw.
Keep a fire
Gary O'
Agree with the above :) [cool]
Geeez, time flies
Easter;
Company from down the path
Husband
Wife
Three half grown kids.
Small cabin.
We never seem to lack for company (sheeeesh), so we diligently provide as much tepid coffee as they can stand, huddled snugly together while telling amazing tales of our cabin adventures, horrible old folk's breath searing their nostrils, bringing tears to their eyes, til they go away.
Funny/tragic thing;
They brought over their pet rabbit for us to skin.
On Easter, no less.
All three kids were bawling their guts out.
Actually, it was still alive (he later shot it here).
It was a biter (everything and everybody).
It had to go.
It was the kid's idea to off it.
So, they're all saying g'bye, crying, weeping, gnashing teeth, petting, biting....fun times.
Weird duck I am.....had a hard time keeping from laughing.
Amidst the gutting process, many demented jokes popped into this odd head of mine and promptly blurted into fruition.....bodiless rabbit head on the chopping block; 'just a little off the top'.....waving with pawless arms; 'bye kids'.....clapping stumps; 'if yer happy and you know it, clap yer hands'.....squeezing the little rabbit mouth; 'I-I-I-I-I, ain't got n-o-o-o body'.....
Nobody laughed..'cept me.
Anyway, they eventually got over it, and seemed content with having the feet and tail as keepsakes......kids are weird too.
Back from lala land; my mind is trying to fixate on electricity, searching for simple solutions to powering my shop.
For me, building the shop is not the daunting thing.
Running wire thru it that will conduct many volts and watts and amps and ohms (and other mind boggling zippy things with magical names of burnt fingered pioneering scientists) to tools that go 'whirrrr' without causing it to catch fire, sends this mind into a tourette filled dithering conniption.
And solar, well, folks have donated their valuable time and knowledge, trying in vain to pierce this impenetrable noggin in regard to the basic logic of converting watts to volts or volts to watts (why this conversion needs to be done, I'll never know).
These well-meaning folks do not realize my skull is made of some sorta kryptonite/concrete substance of which creates a delicate complimentary protective covering to the mush like oatmeal matter of its contents, making it improbable to ever ever come to a semblance of grasping the complexities of say-y-y-y long division, especially if distractions like shiny things are near at hand.
No, I need illustration, live illustration; 'put this dealybob here, then connect this doohicky to this thingamajig. Now you are ready to convert to......Gary.....Gary.....over here. Ah, fer crap sake.....fire.......you just need fire for light and warmth....no, yer kind does not need nor can ever have power in the form of, say, electricity' (all the while hurriedly packing their tools, jumping in their rig, pealing gravel, their truck getting smaller and smaller into the distance until it's out of sight)
Anyway, it'll be an adventure.
And I travel into this unknown realm with the full knowledge that the 'gzzzt' sound coupled with a burning sensation to the fingertips and toes is not a good one.
Tallyho!
Doing the 'foundation' of the shop.
Low work.
Hate low work.
I tend to remain in an upside down L for several minutes after attempting to unbend.
I've found numerous small odd things in the ground whilst traveling to the tool crib in this position.
Happily I can just plop in the camp chair without unbending.
The deer are back from Christmas valley.
Quite tame.
I hafta waive my arms and run at 'em like a huge bird to get 'em away from the garden.
Sometimes they just stand there and look at me like 'what...the...heck is wrong with him?', then resume to mosey around nibbling.
Anyway, waiting for the rest of our metal roofing to come in.
Did the two bump outs of the main cabin.
(http://i.imgur.com/cW8qFcL.jpg)
Not giddy about the outcome but not unhappy either.
Gonna rain next few days. Proof in the pudding.
The shop;
All angles w/be 45°, roof and all.
Very smug about this decision.
The miter saw is happy about it too.
It'll be a tiny shop with hobbit like features.
Sometime later this summer I'll add a bump out utility on the back (tub, sink, stove), and a carport affair to the front.
Hopefully we can squeeze in time to lay the deck tween the cabins and add a porch to the second cabin.....and chop/stack wood before we are knee deep in the white stuff.
Anyway, finished the floor and ready to frame the shop.
(http://i.imgur.com/4xWtP1y.jpg)
In some circles, doing a jig on the floor after completion is the expected practice;
(http://i.imgur.com/6u5DNi0.jpg)
I'll post pics in the coming weeks.
Y'all keep a fire.
We finished the shop sub roof/ceiling.
(http://i.imgur.com/2lmSY7Z.jpg)
As mentioned, everything with an angle is 45°.
Very happy with this decision.
The roof slope is severe enough to slough off snow accumulation yet not so steep it dictates a high peak or short walls.
And there is no mystery, no calculation as to what setting on the miter saw.
I don't know about you guys, but when I design a building, I pencil in basic structure only, and even that is subject to change.
And the change I see now is more windows.
I'd envisioned hanging hand tools on the walls.
I mean, if this shop was in town I'd be hanging tools in place of seeing the back of the neighbor's garage.
But
Here?
Once the roof came together, and the sun streamed thru the shop,
well,
no decision.
Windows both sides.
All the way
Tools be damned.
They can go in drawers.
I'm gonna see the sights of this natural surrounding while I whittle away,
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter.
And
It's a natural light...the best.
(http://i.imgur.com/Bvfrsmo.jpg)
Oh, sure, I'll put a triangle window at each end of the peak, and large, hinged windows under them. That's a duh decision.
(http://i.imgur.com/lr7n59l.jpg)
But
The windows along the walls,
well,
it screams so loud I can do no other...
y'know, folks can buy many fancy things
expensive things
rare things
but you know what's the rarest and most prized of them all?
The thing that comes from your own hands.
You all know this
Yer handy men
I'm not so 'handy'
But
I do know satisfaction
...and beauty
(http://i.imgur.com/4VVhfz7.jpg)
It's why I'm here
how y'all doin'?
....where's Rick?
Be careful Gary you will talk yourself into it being a living space and have to find your tools in a 5 gallon bucket hidden in a corner. ;)
THAT! sir John, is a strong possibility.
Akshly, it's a model of sorts for the house (larger cabin).
Gonna build sumpm with a wrap around deck, many windows, nearer the meadow.
Lookin' grand!
Looks great Gary! [cool]
Thanks, guys.
The forecast shows rain in two days.
That gives me tomorrow.
Laid the underlayment and almost finished one side of felt.
(http://i.imgur.com/gpnNgbs.jpg)
Still gotta finish the felt, then the metal.
But first, gotta cut it to size....hate that.
Gotta wear a heavy coat and cover my head, then reverse the blade on the table saw and commence to butcher thin metal.
Spent (wasted) most of today erecting a sure/steady set of scaffolding (bound to the 4xs) to keep this wrinkly hind end on the roof all day tomorrow.
(http://i.imgur.com/B8A4dvG.jpg)
If you don't hear from me Thursday, then my engineering endeavor failed....
Rain
Light rain
Heavy rain
More in the forecast for the next two days
The 30 lb felt is on, but not taking a chance
Grabbed a big tarp, knotted some ropes on it
And threw it over the shop
(http://i.imgur.com/5YTflmq.jpg)
Gotta cut down the metal and pre drill while I wait
Gonna take my time
Do it right (as right as I can)
Wood to split and more trees to cut up while I wait
Already have this coming winter's wood piled up
(http://i.imgur.com/3rIHsjI.jpg)
It's a good break
I hate ladders
And heights
Was up at the top when a large shadow overtook me
Coupled with a very close, shrill scream
Thought it might be a pterodactyl
Just a red tail hawk
Looked up
Three of them circling, diving, soaring
Quite the spectacle
Getting to be the norm this time of year
Woke to an unsettled sky this morn
unique coloration
(http://i.imgur.com/jIYeAfv.jpg)
Summer rise
(http://i.imgur.com/Ka0xYTq.png)
Enough to git an' ol' man to the meadow with his camera
And a bobcat near the outhouse
It's a tad unnerving to flash a light on a pair of very intense eyes
Didn't know whether to git my gun or camera
...wasn't quick enough for either
I honestly don't think I've ever been
or could be
happier
Livin' the life Gary O, always love to read your posts, gives me something to look forward to.
[cool]
Thank you, Adam
Roof is coming close to being done
(http://i.imgur.com/6eqZtmw.jpg)
I'm coming close to being done in.
Heights used to bother me when I was young.
Got used to it.
Now?
I get bothered.
(http://i.imgur.com/xKld4o2.jpg)
Still
I climb
Two, three stories.
Still
I get bothered.
Today I got real bothered.
Ladder on a scaffold.
The scaffolding gave way while I was screwing on the ridge cap.
Maybe I should rephrase;
The scaffolding gave way while I was screwing the ridge cap on.
Creepy feeling, the ladder inching down.
Nothing to hang on to
hehh
But the ladder.
I'd strapped the scaffold to the rafter tails, and added a toe board to the plank.
Good thing
Had to gingerly scoot down from rung to rung til I could stand on the failing scaffold.
Old white men don't...can't jump, so I traversed my way to the adjacent scaffold.
Rather exciting way to end the day.
Anyway
The freshly drawn water was extra cold, extra good, as I strolled around and thru the shop last evening.
It's a good build
It's a good feeling to see everything square
In line from timber to timber
(http://i.imgur.com/u7sw3yn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bNLwndw.jpg)
Y'all have a good day.
Yep scaffolding can do that when it is doing anything but vertical support. Even then so when I have 3-5 high I like to find something to tie off to. Not that I don't trust the design theory but I guess I value life a little more than yester-years.
A little past tense but I come to love "roof jacks". Two attached and a 2X6 gives a great place to rest the ladder tail on or even my foot when the need arise.
Now when it rains you have someplace to piddle in the dry. ;D
Glad to hear you made it safely off the roof without too much drama. I'm not so sure I would have accomplished such a gingerly-stepped egress. While I tell people I'm like a cat on my feet, I'm frequently corrected that it's Cat, not cat, and a D-9 at that.
My digital-ocular measurement system seems a little out of calibration, as I'm having difficulties assessing the dimensions of your shop floor. Would that be something like a 16' x 24' shop, or is it a little smaller?
'D-9'...I gotta steal that, 'cept I'm now more like a JD450
Yeah, John, discovered layin' the ladder on the planks wus huge, back saving, when building the A frame.
No application with this stuff.
Glad, so glad it's done.
I'm beat to a pulp, and got waves of company coming from all over.
Guess I could use the break.
And there lies the problem with me.
When I have a task, I'm on it.
Can't stop.
The sun dictates how long of a day I put in.
Around 6 or 8 yesterday afternoon the wife sez, 'well, better knock off and relax in the meadow after a bath'.
'I'm @#!!!ing (spit) gonna %$#@!!ing (sputter) finish this &%#$!!ing side now!'
This was moments before the almost accident.
synopsis;
Metal
unforgiving in places
sin covering in others
Quote from: ChugiakTinkerer on July 15, 2016, 01:39:58 PM
My digital-ocular measurement system seems a little out of calibration, as I'm having difficulties assessing the dimensions of your shop floor. Would that be something like a 16' x 24' shop, or is it a little smaller?
12 x 16 (192 sf)
seems huge right now
Shopdate Aug 8;
Starting to do the fun stuff
The inner workings
Where I put tools
(http://i.imgur.com/PAwsRgf.jpg)
.....once I find them
Here's where I pick up the pace
Work almost on the dead run
Measure once
Cut
Toss it
Cut more
Repeat
Side bar;
I say 'almost on the dead run', because when I do run folks have mentioned I resemble a struggling diseased yak...on ice. And, I have this lack in foot/eye coordination most normal people take for granted.
aaand, I get in scurry mode
can't seem to git 'er done quick enough
its akin to eating ice cream too fast
this is where I have a little alone time with myself
(psst, hey, pooptard, slow the eff down, it's not a race, savor, enjoy, beeeee the wood, beeee the saw, beeee the hammer)
anywaaaay
I laid down the 2 bys to get a feel for the height.
(http://i.imgur.com/alT37wg.jpg)
Like it
Tomorrow, gonna staple the nongrooved T-111 on the wall
Then cut/nail the subsurface (2x4s) to the bench
Then staple on the sheathing
....wait
First I'm gonna do some framing for drawers before securing the subsurface
Note; I used to be a pegboard mutant.
No more.
Just using bent headless finishing nails.
The other side of the shop is getting a tad messy
(http://i.imgur.com/fyBqcgn.jpg)
But in too much of a hurry to do anything about that right now.
Time trials in bench construction resume at 0700 hours....
the shop is coming along
(http://i.imgur.com/M3mCWQx.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Hb2wuag.png)
I'm not unhappy
OK, happy
very happy
Satisfied
Content
'Content' is big....huge
Dire, even
Luxurious
....Everything
Goes well with coffee
Sometimes Glenmorangie
I've again proven to myself that taking time, savoring effort, can pay well
Meanwhile....inside, things are becoming a wee bit congested
(http://i.imgur.com/9NEIAJU.jpg)
There are no time outs
gotta keep on keepin' on
y'all keep a fire
Lookin' great!
Thanks, Adam.
Prairie wolves voiced their appreciation of last night's harvest moon.
Clouds vailed its appearance, but at the same time, enhanced it.
My lady and I moseyed out the cabin door to take it all in.
Spectacular
Turned off the genny 'round midnight
Listened to the only sound....the eerie wails of which only their language could describe the vision so entirely
The decelerated shutter speed of the hand held Nikon begat a blurred sky that seemed to add to the scene
(http://i.imgur.com/QY1JHdY.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/kVtW0Az.png)
Was a great moment out here for this ol' man
Its why I'm here
Folks that live out a ways get this kinda stuff on a regular schedule
Townies, not so much
y'all have a good day
mine started out pretty early
gonna keep takin' it all in
all day
keep a fire
Love the shed! Love the doors.....not the yotes so much though! ha!
Thanks, pard.
The 'yotes are indeed a mixed blessing
I love your tool shed. You did an awesome job. [cool]
thanx garyc
I just peeked at yer build
geeeez loooeez
that
is
HUGE!
Now I'm following' it.....
Gary O When I started reading the country planes forum your's and OlJarhead is the one's that Read all the through with great interest. not only you'r builds was very informative but also very entertaining with with you'r life's ups and down. I thank both of you'r guys need to wright a book about you'r life adventures. I would be the first to buy the book!
Well, I have written a book about our cabin building adventures...
Thought it was in my profile
At the risk of self promoting spam
The name of it is Wunneezdaze
May write another
thanks again, garyc
now....if we could get OJ to write one I could fill that empty spot in my library
LOL every once in a while I think about it...usually right after I hit myself with a hammer....in the head d*
After a few finishing touches to the shop, like window screens
(http://i.imgur.com/6D3jc2R.jpg)
(not done with other finish work just yet)
I moved on to summer project number two; a porch for the 2nd cabin.
Used the left over metal roofing, but had to overlap the two foot pcs.
(http://i.imgur.com/UHSTrhH.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/KgxUqeJ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qv0zYWi.jpg)
Happy with it.
We'll see how happy I am with it after this winter.
As for now, I feel it's an added dimension, a completion to something missing.
(http://i.imgur.com/XBPL8kq.jpg)
Now, basically the same thing on the back of the shop
(http://i.imgur.com/XeBb8Ho.jpg)
it never ends
....I hope
Wow :) Looking great!
Thanks OJ, you know the pains
Gave a ton of fishing stuff and other crud away this week.
Here's the deal;
If
You ever want to know what you need vs what you have,
just buy a container,
put all yer earthly possessions in it,
take out only what you need, when you need it,
do this for one year,
sell or give away what remains in there
On another note,
Here's some pics from inside the shop (forgive the fisheye feature);
(http://i.imgur.com/rnSY1LT.jpg)
Gonna build a desk in this corner
(http://i.imgur.com/JnATeQY.jpg)
Finally, room for the big saws
(http://i.imgur.com/TqckyRS.jpg)
I used to be a pegboard slut.
Now?
Bent finishing nails
Luv it
(http://i.imgur.com/psV7QBL.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/tKAVAbh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/OaksbVR.jpg)
And, of course, trinkets, relics...like me
(http://i.imgur.com/BsDDnm2.png)
gonna miss summer
I will miss the baths in the meadow.
The soak after a hard hot day of building.
My woman has to coax me to lay down the hammer and saw.
But it's never a regret.
Soak in the trough, basking in the suds and sun.
(http://i.imgur.com/boNOXIq.png)
Don't need a towel.
Just sprawl out on the chaise letting ol' sol dry ya off.
Sometimes a nap happens.
hope I'm not disappointed in heaven...
Y'all keep a fire
Damn that's downright civilized! I remember the days of hanging a garden hose over a branch and having a 'shower' in front of god and everybody....used to say "don't come around here unexpected or, um, you might see something unexpected!" ha!
Post holes
Hardpan is two feet down
Didn't know hardpan
I now know hardpan
Turns out, my gate post holes are two feet deep
(http://i.imgur.com/CNJwkA1.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/jrYJMFy.png)
Set my posts in gravel and concrete
(http://i.imgur.com/34j5K0j.png)
Gonna hang the gate and string fence in the morn
Gale force winds predicted
Should be entertaining
Well, I'm done for the year.
Happy, satisfied, content.
Turns out hope,
when applied,
yields results.
(http://i.imgur.com/l39MNmI.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/nUBGpBw.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bW8UORY.jpg)
Much to be thankful.
Y'all enjoy the giving of thanks.
snows a comin'
(http://i.imgur.com/srFOttH.png)
Keep a fire
Quote from: Gary O on November 22, 2016, 08:03:11 AMsnows a comin'
Not fast enough. I need a 12" base before I can even get to my place. [shocked]
Quote from: Gary O on November 22, 2016, 08:03:11 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/srFOttH.png)
Gorgeous photo. is that an elk bugle I hear in the distance?
Stay warm and content!
That turned out really nice Gary. Good job.
gittin' it now
six more inches of snow
more comin'
(http://i.imgur.com/vfji3DU.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ObI4jmg.jpg)
Purdy though
(http://i.imgur.com/eNQujm7.jpg)
y'all keep a fire
Love the picture of the woods all buried in snow. So very peaceful!
Looks as if you have it well insulated as there are no bare spots on the roof. Now that you have your supply of wood in and your workshop finished looks as if you are all set for the winter with a place to go and get out of the little woman's hair occasionally. ;) Looks good Gary.
Quote from: Redoverfarm on December 26, 2016, 12:07:09 PM
Now that you have your supply of wood in and your workshop finished looks as if you are all set for the winter with a place to go and get out of the little woman's hair occasionally. ;) Looks good Gary.
Heh Heh
'tis a truth you speak
thanks guys
OK, now we're gettin' it.
Measuring in yards, not feet.
There's a picnic table under that mound.
(http://i.imgur.com/XjWeFHa.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/hJz8nHs.jpg)
The shop is a huge refuge.
(http://i.imgur.com/T2PtKjR.jpg)
Temps have soared from -24F to low thirties for awhile.
Begetting several days of snow.
The one path I maintain is this one;
(http://i.imgur.com/5XayRED.jpg)
keepin' a fire
Keep a fire indeed! Glad to see all is well and hope you and the misses are staying warm and not throttling each other ;) :D d*
Stay warm my friend.
Quote from: OlJarhead on January 08, 2017, 06:12:56 PM
Keep a fire indeed! Glad to see all is well and hope you and the misses are staying warm and not throttling each other ;) :D d*
Stay warm my friend.
Oh, we be warm.
There are times we consider throwing ourselves in a snow bank when we over stoke the earth stove.
My hibernation gene kicks in this time of year.
I git up around 9 or 10 or 11 (gawd I luv retirement!)
scratch my back on a tree
grab a few sticks for the stove
await breakfast
take a nap
the afternoon I may do some chores, maybe (gawd I luv retirement!)
take a nap
sometimes a nap makes me sleepy
so
I take a nap (did I mention what I thought about retirement?)
(http://i.imgur.com/LI8B6r5.jpg)
somebody keep that fire (yawn)
and catch those lights
(http://i.imgur.com/w7sxrl4.png)
(take care, OJ...luv ya, man)
knock it off! All that napping is making me sleepy! ;)
Well, that ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ sound is not all snoring
(http://i.imgur.com/L5yQBoz.jpg)
on a more serious note;
months before I'd conjured up shop design thoughts, my lady sent me a pic
hehh, liked it so much I pasted myself into it
(http://i.imgur.com/cHzR5fD.png)
not far from reality now
Heheheh... always get a kick outta your posts.
Can you show us a closeup of the paint-job on the loo? Almost looks like faces...
PS: I could have very well asked this same question a year ago and already forgotten the answer so forgive me if this was already answered. I am sooOOooOoo looking forward to retirement, you have no idea.
Quote from: Adam Roby on January 09, 2017, 05:58:09 PM
Heheheh... always get a kick outta your posts.
Can you show us a closeup of the paint-job on the loo? Almost looks like faces...
PS: I could have very well asked this same question a year ago and already forgotten the answer so forgive me if this was already answered. I am sooOOooOoo looking forward to retirement, you have no idea.
Retirement is not what they say it is...
It's
BETTER!Our poophaus;
Heh, we threw that thing up in a couple hours.
(actually while feeling the urge)
We haggled over the camo design, but I think I won...maybe.
(http://i.imgur.com/dZoFRb1.jpg)
In summer you can hardly see it, at least that was the intent, in case revenuers got past the gate.
So far, so good.
Anyway, I fashioned a little 'LOO' sign outa sticks and found a door knocker much like the one scrooge used when it came to life.
At least that's what came to mind when I grabbed it off an old discarded door.
(http://i.imgur.com/Um5wpbW.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ykiRf7o.jpg)
Inside is rather plush, I must say, with the foam wrap an all.
(http://i.imgur.com/iQjerV6.jpg)
don't mind the sprinkles
And, of course, the back door hatch
(http://i.imgur.com/HDO6nn5.jpg?1)
as you can see, the appointments were quite well thought out
Questions, anyone?
Lines are open
Well, here it is, middle of January and we still have six cord of wood.
....and ten cord of snow and ice on top of it.
(http://i.imgur.com/Z0SvKHU.jpg)
Heh, its gonna warm me a lot more than 'twice'
....a lot more
Quote from: Gary O on January 09, 2017, 10:07:08 PM
Questions, anyone?
Lines are open
I like the design. Foam wrap, I was gonna ask about the cold seat... that wrap is well needed. Is this your only toilet?
Where do you empty the bucket, do you have some compost pile or barrel or something?
Time for a passive solar heater?
Quote from: Adam Roby on January 24, 2017, 09:22:30 PM
I like the design. Foam wrap, I was gonna ask about the cold seat... that wrap is well needed. Is this your only toilet?
Where do you empty the bucket, do you have some compost pile or barrel or something?
Yes, our one and only
there's only two of us
we don't eat much
therefore, well, you know
anyway
permit me to lazily grab an old post I submitted last summer from another site;
This is what I learned today from a guy down the path that had been composting his family of five's 'stuff' for six years.
Build a bin
Approx four feet cubed
Posts in the corners and 3-4 inch wide by half inch thick boards
2-3 inch spacing
Initially leave one side open with one or two boards at the bottom.
Start with a generous layer of pine needles or the like.
A layer of straw on top of that does not hurt.
Empty your pail of you know what, including TP, and well...P.
(no wipes, won't break down)
Pine needles and straw on top of that, about 2-3 inches.
Add boards as needed.
If you experience an odor, add more straw and needles.
(if you experience an odor after saaay a foot of pine needles and straw, change your dining habits or see a doctor)
Once the bin is full, proceed to the next bin and start the process anew.
Let the first bin 'rest' for 12 months.
Happy birthday, you now have compost.Yes, I compost the stuff, in summer.
Winter (now) I burn it.
diesel/gas mix
add some sticks
voila
molten crap
takes patience
matter of fact, I need to stroll over there right now to cover the barrel
somebody on that site warned me about mixing poop and urine for compost
my reply;
About the urine;
Looks like I need to back up a bit to clarify my intent.
This 'compost' will not go into our garden.
Bushes, shrubs, maybe trees, if anything.
My intent is to just break down the 'stuff'.
So, the explanation of 'learning the hard way' prolly doesn't apply in our case.
I'm just getting somewhat weary of spending a goodly portion of whatever is left of my precious time here on irth boiling poopoo.
At first it was fascinating.
The lighting ceremony.
Stirring the caldron.
Tossing on more...and more.....and more fuel.
Not sure when tedium recognition took place, but, by end of winter the allure had transmuted to some kinda sordid monotony.
This led me to the quick and easy aspect of composting.
But
to extract urine from the other stuff, or to somehow divert the stream 'tween urges?
Not bloody likely.
Then again, if we were to be so bold as to use our loo-made urineized compost in our veggie garden after a year of resting, well, those fine neighbors down the path have been doing it for years now and they seem normal.....good color, no hair loss, good muscle tone....minimal itching....so, yes, summer it becomes compost
winter it goes away, sorta, eventually
Quote from: OlJarhead on January 24, 2017, 09:37:03 PM
Time for a passive solar heater?
thinking about a gigantic magnifying glass
6 months and no update? Hope all is well Gary!?
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 27, 2017, 08:43:11 AM
6 months and no update? Hope all is well Gary!?
No worries
tis the busy season
no need to bore you folks with repetition...
anyway;
Temps steady into the 70s for as far as the forecast shows
Some days dallying with 80
Time to rise early
Cut wood in the cool of the wee morn hours
(http://i.imgur.com/Jv44MIg.jpg)
Then breakfast
Then the easy things, roofing, decking, hauling water...
That's when work blinds one's senses.
Forget to eat
What wives are for
I get coaxed to the meadow round 2p
The trough water is cold this time of year
But
The sun
Is hot
Gonna sprawl out on those new home built chaises
Yessir
(I'll sneak back to work round 6p, stays light til 8 something)
Night is easy
No fire to keep
Bed window wide open
A blanket
One
...and my woman
Oh, I made a couple chaise lounges when our plastic ones gave it up
(http://i.imgur.com/p4Kyfhn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/r0Gs0J5.jpg)
Thanks for the touch, pard
Nice to hear everything is OK.
The last thing I am when reading your posts is "bored". Inspired is more the word I would use.
You're looking more buff... this lifestyle suits you and seems to be making you a healthier person.
Glad to see you are using your workshop for leisure as well as work.
Keep well.
Quote from: Adam Roby on May 28, 2017, 07:40:44 AM
Nice to hear everything is OK.
The last thing I am when reading your posts is "bored". Inspired is more the word I would use.
You're looking more buff... this lifestyle suits you and seems to be making you a healthier person.
Glad to see you are using your workshop for leisure as well as work.
Keep well.
Thank you Mr Adam
I gained 20 lbs over winter
It may take all 8 cords to git it back off....
Quote from: Adam Roby on May 28, 2017, 07:40:44 AM
Nice to hear everything is OK.
The last thing I am when reading your posts is "bored". Inspired is more the word I would use.
You're looking more buff... this lifestyle suits you and seems to be making you a healthier person.
Glad to see you are using your workshop for leisure as well as work.
Keep well.
Agreed!
Glad to hear from ya Gary! I often check your thread to see what's new when I pop in to update my own ;)
Cheers
Erik
You guys are too kind
I need to catch up with all y'alls projects
But
It's spring....
Amenities
I searched out and bought a propane driven chikin fryer for $44 at wallyworld
(http://i.imgur.com/M3gH4ry.jpg)
It's the mini me version of a turkey fryer
Sez on the box NOT FOR TURKEYS
Set it out in the meadow by the metal trough (our tub) to hurry up a warm bath
It's just that these late spring morns at 20° turn the tub water a bit frigid and keep it so all day
Guess we're gettin' soft
Anyway, it sends my mind back to childhood
The folks were always aimed at having a pool
Got wunna those huge above ground jobs
Tiny elect filter, cover and all
Took weeks to fill it
Months to warm it
Invited folks over
We all watched as each guest made their grand entrance from daylight basement to patio to pool
Everbody in the pool
Standing around, floating, sorta
Carefully drinking drinks
Taking in the bubbling aroma of chemicals while looking for places to put their elbows
Masked frog kids exploring the amazing underworld of the wrinkled plastic ocean floor, stirring up chlorinated sludge at the incredible depth of 4.5 feet
Two and three year olds choking on the filtered water of a dozen middle aged crotches
Our too huge house was on the edge of a well established stand of doug fir trees
Everthing from those trees landed in the pool
Lifeforms took residence in spite of the neglected cover
T'ward sept they'd pretty much taken over
A preteen lad could do a science paper on the evolution of what swam in there
By fall, the sagging walls of the once coveted pool gave way, sending a tidal wave of green/brown scunge back to the forest
The folks, their waking hours taken with three full time jobs, hadn't given much in depth consideration to maintenance issues, and the attention span of a preteen lad and his daily decision of not skimming out a potential prize winning science collection of fluttering fauna
Dad had moved on from the fixation of a summer pool to a larger boat
And folks wonder why I'm driven to a simpler life
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
(http://i.imgur.com/mYKi8U3.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/2rJbXTY.png)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/OzMAtVP.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/3v4zl29.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/sJmj6bA.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/ZEeYNh8.jpg)
the well shack has already paid huge dividends
(https://i.imgur.com/jZuVncg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IvXObfD.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/rGytX6m.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/V0l6BvU.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/r7wqQfE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nE7EGpU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NkDYh8G.png)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/j8Ld48n.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/BisX6Vc.jpg)
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
(https://i.imgur.com/IntcuaS.jpg)
Oh, I did finish the pie safe
(yes, the hinges are backward....all I had in inventory...will change out next trip to town)
(https://i.imgur.com/qIdHbxw.jpg)
The earth stove commenced smoking so much we couldn't add wood without getting a cabin full of smoke, not even crack the door.
Took all the pipe apart.
Knocked all the creosote out.
Little help.
Considered the ponderosa pine (probably a culprit, probably not cured)
Sites said adding more exterior pipe makes a world of difference.
Added a three foot section
(https://i.imgur.com/luoZyMs.jpg)
No smoke.
Zero
Nada
Heh, been fighting 'some' cabin smoke for almost three years, thinking I'd screwed up not sending the pipe straight thru the roof
Resigned to the fact I'd be doing just that this summer.
Sprung for a length of exterior just to prove 'em wrong.
$160
So glad they weren't.
...and no, no snow
this date last year we had 4 1/2 feet accumulated
not unhappy about it...yet
anyway
I'm gonna add a support bracket for mental assurance, even though 5' from the roof line is supposed to be OK without it.
Wind here can gust to 80 or more mph.
(https://i.imgur.com/nATV0x8.jpg)
fires to keep
Getting the pipe at least 2' above the ridge will help some. Watch the cap for accumulation of creosote which will partially stop the exhaust (smoke) from freely leaving the pipe.
Yes, and yes
I'd considered a spark arresting screen on the cap, but was cautioned against it for just that reason
Before I added the 3' section it was a lot easier to remove it and swab the pipes
but
so be it
and the occasional hot fire with lesser wood
keep a fire, John
Weather here is touching the 60s
freaking incredible
this time last year
(https://i.imgur.com/OmaJ5aF.jpg)
a few days ago (snow now gone)
(https://i.imgur.com/KpTEV7T.jpg)
Beginning our third year here next month
Little has changed our outlook, our expectations
Enhanced?
Yes
Winters are long
They have their rewards not enjoyed in spring, summer
But spring
It's what's looked for, waited for
And it's now here
Bugs have yet to hatch
The sun has yet to burn like summer
I can work all day, not just the morn
The air
Mountain air at 4550' is so pure, so crisp in spring
The day started like most
(https://i.imgur.com/fux5CMG.png)
But
It's spring now
I did work outside all day
Started in the shop, opened both doors
Ended up outside, answering the call of this new season
Uncovering things, prepping garden spots for my lady
Ma nature laughs during spring
It could snow here in June
But today
Today was what one looks for, waits for
The first days of spring let you know just how outa shape a lazy winter can make you
Tonight I ache in places I forgot I had
Last thing I did today was make a screen door for the main cabin
Previous seasons I just fashioned a weighted screen that hung from the top of the jamb, vowing to 'make a real one next year'
Heh, it's now next year
I'd hoped, in my head, to fashion a sliding affair, as there's not much porch room, and I hate contending with light swinging doors that don't quite close flush, inhibited by the wind
The slider works better than I'd hoped
(https://i.imgur.com/QCx8SOJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qecHcLt.jpg)
handles can be fun
(https://i.imgur.com/4VIAgfA.png)
Not unhappy
(https://i.imgur.com/sBr3oyp.jpg)
Like your for hardware!
We now have wood
for two seasons
14 cord
so very happy to be done with it by early May
(https://i.imgur.com/qE9bRpT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/h6ULaSi.jpg)
Next year I'm getting a log truck load
buck, split at my leisure
No small feat. Wish I had your energy.
Quote from: Redoverfarm on May 10, 2018, 08:56:53 AM
No small feat. Wish I had your energy.
wish I had it back...
I think tired has trumped the happy/relieved
Awesome! That's one heck of a good feeling! and now you have all summer left to ENJOY! :)
Wow! That's some serious firewood. I'm sure it's a great feeling having it all this early.
Enough of this busy ant work. You've earned a little grasshopper time.
That's an impressive wood pile (neatly) stacked reserve.
Quote from: pmichelsen on May 11, 2018, 05:42:22 PM
That's an impressive wood pile (neatly) stacked reserve.
Thank you for that observation. pm
The ricks (face cords) have served us well
Well, after the firewood endeavor, we decided to build a knitting/spinning shack
(https://i.imgur.com/RGo38rh.jpg)
Then, after getting raided by Mr Black Bear about a dozen times, I decided to build a garbage can crib...make him work for his dinner...we'll see
(https://i.imgur.com/xThZOHb.jpg)
In other news, been the summer of wildfire smoke
And zero rainfall...of which, turns out, means zero mosquitos
I'm not unhappy about that
Gettin' prepped for ol' man winter again
Took a couple pics of Zippy doing his thing
(https://i.imgur.com/6EC5NBy.png)
and on the move...zipping
(https://i.imgur.com/fRIEKWR.png)
He makes sure to leave his leftover cone on the cob for me, on my lounge pillow
(https://i.imgur.com/lSIraHQ.jpg)
We've stayed pretty much one month ahead of projects, and it's been nice
Took a day off and hit a couple high lakes
(https://i.imgur.com/chcvQ3z.jpg)
One trout to keep
One to lose...and talk about...shoulda seen it
Anyway, how y'all doin'?
Glad all is well bud! Sorry we missed you this summer but had 10hrs to drive home...long day!
Quote from: OlJarhead on September 08, 2018, 06:33:23 PM
Glad all is well bud! Sorry we missed you this summer but had 10hrs to drive home...long day!
Understand
Best intentions get diverted by driver fatigue
Glad you made the right decision
Any chance of making that bear your dinner? The fur might help keep you warm this winter too... just a though.
Always nice to hear from you, and your building skills seem to improve with each new build, things are getting fancier in GaryOLand.
What a beautiful lake!
Quote from: Adam Roby on September 10, 2018, 08:36:47 PM
Any chance of making that bear your dinner? The fur might help keep you warm this winter too... just a though.
Always nice to hear from you, and your building skills seem to improve with each new build, things are getting fancier in GaryOLand.
Yeah, considered offing ol' Blackie, but...can't
1) Regs here say ya gotta get with ODF&W first
2) I really don't have the heart no more
3) Turns out, there's actually three bears (don't go there)
'things are getting fancier in GaryOLand'Yeah, I gotta back off on being too precise....and remind myself they're cabins and shacks
Quote from: Rys on September 11, 2018, 09:38:07 AM
What a beautiful lake!
'twas
and hardly a soul around
Prolly due to the logging road to get there
The wash board goin' down made the trip back..... interesting
Go too fast and that road will toss you away like a spoilt child
That's how we keep the shared road into our property.
Have a back way in that's well maintained. ;D
Hey, everbody here doing OK?
It's winter, so, I'm doing things in the shop (I dreamt about doing just this back when I was a slave)
Folks have been rather hot for these live edge picture frames I make outa (hehh) sticks found on the ground.
(https://i.imgur.com/a66edRt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Hmml0OJ.jpg)
I'll be selling them in the little main street store in downtown K Falls
Other than doing daily chores of drawing water, bringing in wood, and burning poop, well....I sleep
Most those sleep sessions involve dreams
Of me sleeping
In much bigger cabins
Much much bigger
(https://i.imgur.com/dbzwPjT.png)
cold out
(https://i.imgur.com/ayxgweO.jpg)
Keepin' a fire
in the sky
(https://i.imgur.com/ZC4Nyzd.jpg)
and in the stove
(https://i.imgur.com/AfIIyuW.jpg)
cheers
Nice frames!
Glad to hear you're keeping the fire going and doing something enjoyable this winter! Me? I'm ready for more cabin time!
Quote from: OlJarhead on January 30, 2019, 12:28:40 PM
Nice frames!
Glad to hear you're keeping the fire going and doing something enjoyable this winter! Me? I'm ready for more cabin time!
I used to know that feeling
This time of year I kinda get the fever
So I read up on it in a favorite periodical
(https://i.imgur.com/dyvHKPi.jpg)
so....not yet
(https://i.imgur.com/3l14HWm.jpg)
Nice photo chop!
An old song by Styx comes to mind...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XcKBmdfpWs
:)
good call
Hey guys
My buddy in Alaska and I are sharing vids of our places, since we haven't seen each other for the last 4 or 5 years
Thought I'd share with y'all
I'm no videographer but that'll become obvious straight away
And you'll have to put up with the mumbling narrator
anyway
Here 'tiz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDbk3Tiibfw
Cool and much better than mine! :)
Can't woof me, OJ.
I've seen yers
...but, thanks fer tryin'
Sweet setup, I had wondered how all your different buildings were laid out. Thanks for sharing, I almost feel like I know you now. ;)
Quote from: Adam Roby on February 19, 2019, 12:47:18 PM
I almost feel like I know you now. ;)
Well, AR, I'm pretty much an open book
Fiction based on reality....not really, I just don't remember what I've embellished (hheh hheh)
Ever git down this way, we can hunker over a fire and swap tales while sipping a brew
(https://i.imgur.com/UcPElGr.png)
That's mighty neighborly of you good sir. I may just take you up on that one day. I have a cousin that lives in Bend Oregon that I haven't seen in close to 20 years and would love to go visit. I don't fly, so it takes time to plan a 2750 mile journey by car. If and when I do, I'll give you a quick ring for sure. It would be an honor to meet you and the Missus... maybe show my wife how retirement is supposed to look like.
:D
That's a beautiful place you have there Gary.
Quote from: Adam Roby on February 20, 2019, 12:11:48 PM
That's mighty neighborly of you good sir. I may just take you up on that one day. I have a cousin that lives in Bend Oregon that I haven't seen in close to 20 years and would love to go visit. I don't fly, so it takes time to plan a 2750 mile journey by car. If and when I do, I'll give you a quick ring for sure. It would be an honor to meet you and the Missus... maybe show my wife how retirement is supposed to look like.
:D
Well, sir, when and if you do get the urge to see yer folks in Bend....
Do this, get a line wet in the Deschutes, and pull out a hard fought trophy.
Bring it to our cabin, and we'll grill it for ya.
We're only an hour and a half down the path
Yes, call ahead.
But make it not before 4pm, or it'll just silently ring and ring and ring (I'll be outside).
Around 2, in July and Aug, I have to knock off early due to heat.
I'll be in the tub
(https://i.imgur.com/RIUU9CK.png)
Then drying in the sun
On, hell, call anytime.
I can always call you back.
My email (to get my number) is in my profile
Once we set a date, I'll be sure to have some clothes on.
If it's still snowin', we can always butcher some wood in the shop
(https://i.imgur.com/r2lYkqv.jpg)
Quote from: NathanS on February 20, 2019, 06:28:16 PM
That's a beautiful place you have there Gary.
Wy, thank you Nate
But it's not mine
I just live here
So far, The Creator has let me stay...
(https://i.imgur.com/211gD3G.png)
Wunna the colder days of the year here
Thank gawd the wind ain't blowin'
(https://i.imgur.com/ksbzbdm.jpg)
And the forest gnomes
I think they're known for hiding in plain sight
'cept for this'n
Guess the snow blower exposed his form
Grumpy lookin' little elf
(https://i.imgur.com/E0AnVjB.jpg)
Gonna keep a fire all day
(https://i.imgur.com/pNf9ea0.jpg)
Quote from: Gary O on March 30, 2018, 12:42:53 AM
Last thing I did today was make a screen door for the main cabin
(https://i.imgur.com/qecHcLt.jpg)
Hey Gary, I was just wondering how well that screen door held up?
I am looking to replace the two exterior doors of my cabin, but doors now-a-days don't seem to have much in the way of large screens to let fresh air in/out without letting in all the bugs. I think I will build my own screen doors on the outside, just not sure how strong they need to be. Everything I draw up looks big and heavy, yours look thin and light... would you do it the same way the second time around?
Adam, gotta say, I'm very pleased.
Thought sure the thing would hang up on my home built slider, but it hasn't.
Very happy with that, because I didn't have the room on the porch for it to swing 90°
You prolly have room.
But
I'll go into detail on the slider anyway
Left a skosh bit of free space for it to slide
Had to cobble a little stopper on the closing end
(https://i.imgur.com/ZmePAIw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zKwFwEe.jpg)
But left the other end free (in case I had to take the door off to replace the screen)
(https://i.imgur.com/qbJWuiS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Jq7sL5j.jpg)
Yes, its light (knew it had to be to slide without hanging up)
I had to put a piece on TOP of the inner middle frame to grab and open/close
I chose a small burl (door booger)
(https://i.imgur.com/7UJFchx.jpg)
As for the door;
I ripped a 2x4 down the middle, yielding 1 ½ x 1 1/4 something for framing pieces
Then ripped 3/8" off the rounded edge of that for strips to sandwich the screen to the remains of the framing pieces
(https://i.imgur.com/sNY0yos.jpg)
Initially I'd considered stapling the strips, but then realized I'd have to fiddly fart with those if (and when) I'd need to replace the screen
So, I found some short, washer head, screws
(https://i.imgur.com/Q173DlL.jpg)
Added some 45° pcs in the corners to give the thing some stability (no wobble)
(https://i.imgur.com/YizcRfE.jpg)
If you think of something else i.e. questions/thoughts/concerns, please feel free to query to yer hearts content
I'm not on here as much as I'd like, and now it's the busy season, but I get emails when someone posts on this thread, so.....I WILL get back to you within 24 hrs.
Or you could email me garyodan@msn.com
If you email, I'll get back to you within 23 hrs
Easter morn was spectacular, btw
(https://i.imgur.com/hALsuLG.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1vfo3Bk.jpg)
cheers
(https://i.imgur.com/flOOkba.jpg)
Quote from: Adam Roby on April 21, 2019, 12:30:38 PM
would you do it the same way the second time around?
yes, absolutely
easy peasy
btw, no matter how much you spend on screen, the stuff ain't all that durable
the chippies have hung in this one, however, with no rips...not sure why...it's the cheap stuff
May 26, twenty nineteen....it snowed
(https://i.imgur.com/zhStAsV.jpg)
not a bunch
(https://i.imgur.com/YzcFe9y.jpg)
but enough
Even though covered, the freshly planted tomato plants froze
Pulled the pathetically limp things outa the soil
They are now compost
It's my busy season
But, I best post some, here and there
In late spring, one forgets the harrowing winter
And the winds that come with it
Cold wind is....colder
Blowing down trees wherever it wishes
Trees that never were considered would snap, snap like dry twigs
One learns
Prepares
Hopes
Breathes sighs of relief
Or
Begins repairs
Dawns seem to keep coming
(https://i.imgur.com/emmwN2J.png)
weather can be predicted just by going outside
(https://i.imgur.com/VHJVCPZ.png)
Things are settled at present
back to 'normal'
(https://i.imgur.com/TkEeHGN.png)
The chippies are basking in the morning rays
Seem very deep in thought
(https://i.imgur.com/6XsDWbn.jpg)
when in reality
(https://i.imgur.com/biko3KZ.jpg)
Anyway
We get the birds
Never knew how much I enjoyed them
They are truly a pleasantry
Some comedic, some gloriously regal, some quite tiny
Have yet this spring to have the large shadows float over me
But they'll come
Hawks of all kinds
Coopers
Redtails
A baldy here and there
Turkey vultures are fun
Took a moment to make a sound vid of a little guy with a pretty voice
He had some things to say in his charming tune
Here's some lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AKZiEeiO0E
Y'all keep a fire
Glad to hear all is well bud!
Quote from: OlJarhead on May 29, 2019, 07:25:59 AM
Glad to hear all is well bud!
Spring does that, yessir.
The garden is our target this year
Will letcha know how that goes
Oh, one little tidbit news item;
Our 50th anniversary was this month
For the last year, we puzzled over what we'd do to celebrate
It hit us a few months ago
We'd do what we did when we met
She was living at home, with her mother and sibs
Working days, and babysitting at night, while her mother went out, seeking men with money
I worked days, long hours
Kept my stuff at a shared apartment with a buddy
So, we'd meet on weekends
Find a dive motel, grab some snacks and beverages, and nestle into our little refuge
Shutting out the world
Frolic
Watch TV
Sleep
Do it all again
The last two/three days we did just that
Heh, some folks get away to a cabin in the woods
We did the opposite
Drove til we could feel we were away
Found a decent motel
Great bed
Informative TV
A couple movies
'Marty' being one
'The Wedding Crashers' being a fun one
We didn't romp like we used to
Not quite as athletic
Oh, sure, we sought out every nerve end of each other
But
The tenderness was more
Caressing can become luxurious
It's immensely fulfilling
And
We went home together this time
Moved to town
Selling the place
Just out of curiosity what made you decide you were done with the place? Really enjoyed your build and I am sure the next owners will as well. Best of luck!
Quote from: Gary O on November 14, 2019, 01:55:06 AM
Moved to town
Selling the place
Winter too cold?
Wildfire season too long or too near?
Health?
No comment?
Take care, but enjoy!
I guess things just got a bit redundant after the building was pretty much done.
Summer was getting ready for winter, and winter was, well, getting thru it.
After four years (four winters) we'd pretty much met all the challenges.
Not sure yet if we'll just keep it as a getaway, or sell it.
I just put an earnest money on a little cottage just outa town a ways.
If we do sell the cabin place, I will surely buy another patch of land and build a little gnome like structure
...and sell it
...and do it again
...and again
can't not
Oh, and I'm writing another book.
I do miss what became my little buddy.
(https://i.imgur.com/urBHcVK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HEcaori.jpg)
Heh, he'd scoot over to the shop and scold me of a morning if I forgot to fill the feeding station.
When we buttoned up the place for winter, a few weeks ago, there he was.
(https://i.imgur.com/cldCw8k.jpg)
Liked the peanuts.
His hands were so gentle when steading his little self on my finger.
(https://i.imgur.com/iM0JBIl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3ffuq0s.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8Hg9o8b.jpg)
last one before leaving
(https://i.imgur.com/jWWxLyh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rwRakaM.jpg)
...and the last g'bye
(https://i.imgur.com/mcvbNSh.jpg)
Yeah, I miss him
We're back!
Moved back to the cabin in April
Happy
Very happy
Warm days for a bit
Took advantage
Our bathe room;
(https://i.imgur.com/bKW9ZMc.jpg)
Geezer attached;
(https://i.imgur.com/A8FXMZn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P1v9YXC.jpg)
'Naked I came'....
(https://i.imgur.com/XtUAmNr.jpg)
Got fat in town
My summer cabin uniform;
(https://i.imgur.com/apUkhYk.jpg)
I kinda let the lawn go;
(https://i.imgur.com/E1SIlhl.jpg)
Anyway, it's good to be back
really good
Making avian abodes in my spare time;
(https://i.imgur.com/iTgTpvI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fSlTY83.jpg)
They're rather whimsical
How's everbod doin'?
Welcome home Gary!
I am in what looks to be the final year of my work career and it has been pretty busy. Between surgeries and shutdowns we haven't made it out to the cabin since last fall. Now it doesn't look like it's going to happen until September. *heavy sigh*
At least there should be lots of blueberries then.
When I do hang up my spurs then we will finally be able to finish all the things that aren't yet done. Soon, real soon.
'Soon, real soon.'
Just don't let it get to later
Time...it slips by too fast
Keep a fire
Glad to see you back in your element Gary! Has anything changed there, disappeared or simply gone missing?
I haven't been on much in the past year... life just gets so busy and days, weeks, months pass before you realize it.
Border has been closed for a few months, and I never got back to my cabin so its been abandoned since last fall (probably 10 months now). I just hope everything is how I left it. Never got a chance to put away the tractor, 4 wheeler, popup camper... for all I know a large pine is laying across the roof and my old tenants (raccoons) have moved back in. They sure do cause a lot of damage, especially when unchecked.
Nothing was touched
Not even a chunk from the wood pile
Folks out here know me
Yeah, a forsaken cabin becomes a worry
We winterized it before we left
Mild winter
We popped in when we could most every month
The chippies seemed to have missed us
'for all I know a large pine is laying across the roof'
Heh, always a worry
Keep a fire, AR
Quote from: Gary O on November 14, 2019, 01:55:06 AM
Moved to town
Selling the place
Glad to hear you guys were back at the cabin, I've got to admit, when you posted that you were selling it felt a bit like a gut punch. I've enjoyed watching your progress over the years and it really took me by surprise when I read that, but at the same time, I get it.
Yeah, at 71, tough decisions don't come lightly.
Winter is the biggie
That is the problem with our society. We tend to wait for retirement to actually live our lives the way we want to, and by then our age or health can be an impediment. My wife and I are at odds already, retirement is still 16 years away, but she is thinking of condos in the city close to everything where I am thinking the opposite, and old farm house in the country on 100 acres. I know waiting to 65 could mean I have less energy to do everything I have planned in my head.
Best of luck to you, whatever ends up happening. Happy you can at least enjoy it for now, take advantage of that time. You have been a real inspiration to me, as well as others as I can see.
Yeah, life has it's tough choices...all the way....from birth, seems.
....and they get tougher as we go.
Good to enjoy the moment (as I've always preached)
I put words to that thought on a pic from our cabin window
(https://i.imgur.com/211gD3G.png)
Quote from: Adam Roby on July 01, 2020, 09:49:51 AM
That is the problem with our society. We tend to wait for retirement to actually live our lives the way we want to, and by then our age or health can be an impediment.
You got that right
So far, I'm in relative excellent health...in spite of myself...
Good to see you back. CP site is like everyone took vacation. Not really for me but not much posting. My cabin is essentially finished. No not really but almost. Been wanting to incorporate solar to the mix. Hey I got the panels but that is far from being installed. Dealing with an aging mother now so there is a push to finish the apartment as my mind thinks it is only a matter of time when she will have to give up her house to be more in watchful eyes. If only age would stay at bay we wouldn't have those problems. But life chooses differently. Oh yeah I still have tons of stuff to do at home as well. No winter wood cut yet. Don't think I will ever get caught up. I guess like everyone else " I will do what I can and pass on what I can't". Damn bucket list. Enjoy what you can while you can.
PS: I guess there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Our telephone company stopped by the house to get permission to cross my property with fiber optics . After having to reset the modem numerous times in a day it will be a welcome addition. Never thought I would see it here.
Quote from: Redoverfarm on July 01, 2020, 05:27:59 PM
Good to see you back. CP site is like everyone took vacation. Not really for me but not much posting. My cabin is essentially finished. No not really but almost. Been wanting to incorporate solar to the mix. Hey I got the panels but that is far from being installed. Dealing with an aging mother now so there is a push to finish the apartment as my mind thinks it is only a matter of time when she will have to give up her house to be more in watchful eyes. If only age would stay at bay we wouldn't have those problems. But life chooses differently. Oh yeah I still have tons of stuff to do at home as well. No winter wood cut yet. Don't think I will ever get caught up. I guess like everyone else " I will do what I can and pass on what I can't". Damn bucket list. Enjoy what you can while you can.
PS: I guess there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Our telephone company stopped by the house to get permission to cross my property with fiber optics . After having to reset the modem numerous times in a day it will be a welcome addition. Never thought I would see it here.
So good to hear from you, sir Red
Yeah, I sure don't see as much activity here as a few months (years?) ago
Uhg, solar systems...sheesh
Anything good, worth having (incl batteries) is around $20K
I'm good with gennys for now
Heh, winter wood
It's what spring/summer/fall is all about
Cheers, ol' pard
Hi there John and Gary. Yes it is pretty quiet here.
FYI, we have as of this May closed our preschool because of the coronavirus. We're splitting our time between the suburbs and the cabin, alternating more or less a week at a time. The forest surrounding us is locked up due to wildfire hazard combined with coronavirus danger the firefighters might face. With the reduced air traffic and no road traffic, the forest is very peaceful.
Quote from: MountainDon on July 03, 2020, 03:38:29 PM
Hi there John and Gary. Yes it is pretty quiet here.
FYI, we have as of this May closed our preschool because of the coronavirus. We're splitting our time between the suburbs and the cabin, alternating more or less a week at a time. The forest surrounding us is locked up due to wildfire hazard combined with coronavirus danger the firefighters might face. With the reduced air traffic and no road traffic, the forest is very peaceful.
Same here
Getting a bit of brownish grey to the eastern sky
Hope it's not a wild fire
Good to hear from you too, sir Don
Glad to see ya back!
I think this forum has been impacted by the Facebook virus much like the others. I advise everyone to avoid facecrap -- social distancing the right way! ha!
Even updated my own thread a little -- but I need to look at pic hosting options.
'Even updated my own thread a little -- but I need to look at pic hosting options.'
Check out imgur
I've stored about 5000 pics there
Very few hiccups
Easy to navigate
Heh, 'facecrap'......I've got other (not near as nice) words for that place