Aug 24, 2013 All Quiet on the Rose Camp Front

Jake cutting logs into rounds.

Cutting the 50' standing dead.

Wednesday 8/21.  We were out the door by 9:00 am to cut more logs and trees then drag them up to the splitter.  Jake cut down three trees by the property marker and then we finished clearing out that area.  After lunch we attacked the jumble just to the left of the end of our drive way.  Both jumbles were actually slash piles that have been sitting there for about 30 years from when the timber company made the roads.  I read an article in one of our magazines regarding firewood and BTU's where the author stated that wood that had been drying for more than three years wasn't worth burning.  Another example of "experts" who aren't.  We have burned wood from another slash pile and it is excellent, especially the fir.

There was another standing dead that Jake cut down, then we were going to drag all the logs up, but by 1:30 pm I wimped out and had to take a nap.   So Jake made the last two trips by himself and started cutting them into rounds and stacking them.  He planned to finish cutting the logs and the cradle on Thursday.

Every day JB is doing better and better.  I am really amazed at how quickly he is recovering.  He is doing the walking that he is supposed to, but is chomping at the leash.  At his doctor's appointment next week, we'll find out just how much he can push it. 

Larry and Elsie came up to visit and meet Jake, bringing fresh eggs and tomatoes and garlic from her garden.  A good ending to a good day.

Thursday 8/22.  This morning Jake cut most of the logs into rounds and sliced two full cradles.  I took wheel barrow loads to the wood shed and stacked rounds by the splitter.  We stopped for lunch, then Jake used expanding foam on the front and north side of the house to fill in the gaps all along under the eaves where escaping warm air is causing mold and where the wasps are probably getting inside the house.  The apex of the roof is 20 feet high from the porch and under the side of the house is 16 feet from the ground, so it was a very tiring job with moving the big ladder all the time.  I can do the eaves above the deck, and the south side of the house will just have to wait.  Jake wants to finish cutting the last five logs into rounds tomorrow morning.

This was his last evening Up Here, so after dinner he and JB played a couple rounds of Magic cards.  JB went to bed, then Jake and I stayed up and talked.  These two weeks have sped by so quickly. . .

Friday 8/23.  Rain began falling about 1:30 am, very quietly.  No thunder and lightening this time.  It had stopped by 7:00 am and we were out the door by 7:30 to finish cutting the last logs.  Jake said he felt much better knowing that whole project was done.

After a big breakfast, Jake packed up.  He and I left at 12:30 pm.  We had several errand to run and took time for a leisurely lunch.  Then we visited Larry and Elsie at their shop.  Got to the airport a bit early, but I simply could not stay with him longer than a half hour as I could feel the tears coming.  It was so hard to say goodbye.

I called JB for the grocery list and got that done on the way home.  Stopped for water at Larry and Elsie's, and was home a little before we heard Jake's plane take off.  I pushed myself to get everything unloaded and put away.  Made a cup of cocoa, and was in bed by 8:00 pm.  Exhausted.

Saturday 8/24.  It is partially overcast and 58 this morning.  I got up at 6:00, fully rested.  Am blogging while awaiting Jake's call.  He took the red-eye and is going to call on his drive home from the airport.  It was so very good to have him Up Here and I can still feel his presence.  But it is very quiet. . .

Thought for the day:  Rest when you need to rest and tomorrow you will be refreshed.  Wild Rose