Last Day of July

Last day of July today and I finished shingling a shed I am building at a leased camp in the middle of no where. Without electricity building takes a bit longer. You have to use a generator and the sound of the generator running pretty much ruins the solitude. Today however, the shingles just needed a utility knife, hammer and nails. The building is going to be vinyl sided and the soffits covered with aluminum.
Scooter goes with me most times to work when the weather isn't too hot for him. He loves watching for intruders and making sure I don't work too long past his dinner time.
We are down to three dogs now. I returned Thor our three-legger to the girl who gave him to me. It had become too much to feed and care for all three large ones. She has his sister so after his sister told him she is in charge they got along great. Funny how you can have so many and still miss one when he is gone. I keep expecting to see him laying in his favorite spot on the front porch.
Lee is going to spend some time with my mother in Iowa to help her out. Her husband passed last week after a short intense battle with cancer. Now that she is older it is harder for her to cope with the loss. 2011 has been a year of dealing with many family issues, which still find you even living in the middle of the woods of Leetonia. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Heat Continues

When it gets in the 90's back here it is hot. Fortunately, this doesn't happen too much, but when it does it is hard on animal and human alike.
The rattlesnakes have been on the move in hot weather seeking the cool of the creeks.
I saw this black Timber Rattler today in front of Red Rock Camp. I saw a larger yellow one crossing Francis Leetonia road yesterday.
If you don't know what they look like you might think the black ones are sticks on the road until you look a bit closer.
Caution should be used swimming in the creeks to make sure you look out for your fellow snakes looking to cool themselves as well. Timber Rattlers aren't real aggressive but they will bite if you get too close or step on them. You are safe if you stay the length of the snake away and don't bother them. Most of the snake bites are people trying to pick them up or mess with them. Cool weather isn't in sight so keep hydrated or best yet sit in a cold stream. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Hot and humid

The last month has made up for all the rain we had early this Spring. The creek is now low and everything is turning brown. Hot and humid in the woods so much so you feel like you are in a terrarium.
The Eagle at Cedar Run had a baby who is flying and complaining a lot lately. I think the parents are teaching him to fish. He sat in a tree today just at the end of Cedar Run hoping for something to eat. I was working close to there and heard his cries going unanswered by his parents. Growing up is tough even for eagles.
The road going through the narrows will be closed probably by tomorrow and traffic diverted onto the bike path. The have limited the width down to 7', which makes it impossible to haul my utility trailer through there. Don't know how long this will take, but I am guessing we will be lucky if it is finished before winter.
Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

log time

Well anyone who read the last blog noticed I was working on staining a log cabin when I discovered rotten logs.
It ended up the whole bottom log was rotten for about seven feet including the bottom plate. The log was eight inch high red pine and since I was unable to find any kiln dry pine that large, I cut one on my property to match.
You can see I then split the log in half as I built the back of the log up with treated lumber to the half way point. The first log isn't visible from the inside of house since it is under the floor or I would have needed to put in an entire log or log side both sides.
Since these logs are very green I am trying to fast dry them on the south side of my house under a plastic sheet. I figure in 2-4 weeks I can get quite a bit of the moisture out. The rest of the drying will need to take place on the cabin after they are installed. I am hoping for them to be dry enough to take on some preservative. Of course the preservative will need to be put on again toward the end of next summer when they are drier.
Once I get them in place I will post them again. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.

Robin transplant and log cabin

Good news for this baby robin. I was working to power wash a log cabin for painting and there was a robin nest with 3 eggs in the way. I decided to see if I could move it to a bush a few feet away. I wasn't sure mother would find it. But she did and hatched at least one of the three eggs. The baby is hungry all the time and hopefully it will survive and fly.
Anyone who loves the woods loves the sight of a little log cabin nestled among the trees. Such is the cabin I am working on now a little 20 foot by 22 foot cabin with a loft. A new owner bought it and wanted it stained. While power washing it I noticed it had an infestation of powder post
beetles. You can see the holes about the size of pencil lead in the logs especially in one corner. Unfortunately, this has gone on too long. Previous owners stacked firewood and other wood under and near the cabin. The wood rotted and brought the pests. The have eaten through about 10 feet of this bottom log and as you can see eaten the plate board it was sitting on.
The log will have to be replaced along with the plate. Wood cabins must be stained every five years now with the changes in safer paint(shorter lasting paint). If you want the beauty of logs consider the work of maintaining them and never stack firewood near any wood camp during summer months when bugs are active. It will be a lot of work to fix the damage on this place. Mountain girl, Paula, logging out.