The Daily Chronicle 2020

I am an only child, I envy you.

The wildfire-smoke filled air here is more dangerous than my pipes...LOL. We have hopes for rain later today, which should wash a lot of the smoke out of the air, but the air quality folks have been reporting air quality numbers so high they exceed the scale for "hazardous for everyone".

Kinda like China, I think.

A consensus among local experts on tree felling is that code for four guys with beer and a chainsaw. You could have hired a professional Tejas girl from east Tejas for the cost of a slurpee.

Living in a really old and dilapidated home, I felt it necessary to hire a good friend who has been in the tree service business for over 35 years, man can climb a pine tree like a squirrel, he came with his crew and cut all that I needed and that he felt that could be a problem with a hurricane...nothing like the confidence in a good crew who know what they are doing and are looking out for you and not a paycheck.
Glad it worked out for you!!

The crew I hired was a guy and his son. Took their time and did great work. I worked until after dark last night and all morning doing 1% of what they did making room for the new building and it almost killed me.

I had a disabled fella in town have a big tree split in last week's wind and fall, 2 of the 3 giant forks landed on the house. He had no money, so he called me. A cowboy with a big Stihl and a bigger Ford.

It was a giant spruce, so all those limbs did a remarkable job of cushioning the blow and not actually damaging the old house.

I got up on the roof and cut everything back away from the edge of the house. He had supported the limbs (each one was easily over 24" thick) back toward the trunk of the tree with 2x4's, so when everything was clear of the house, I hooked a chain to what was precariously supported, tied it to my '95 F350 Powerstroke, and just pulled it all down.

I aint lyin', I was one very nervous ol' cowboy there for a while. But we got 'er done. A crew would have been much preferred, but when you have no money, you lay hold as best you can.

It worked out.

Nice looking shack, Ron!

I typically stay at Holiday inn express, they are nice, but seem to rarely have a restaurant next door, and none allow smoking.

Staying at a Choice hotel that isn’t as nice but still acceptable. I can smoke in the room and there are five acceptable restaurants in walking distance.

Hmmmm!

Every one I've seen doesn't have a warranty if it is not installed by a professional. That's why I ordered it with two windows. I am going to take the AC out of my old shop and put it in this one. It kept the old shop cool and this one is better insulated.

Years ago, I worked for a major foodservice supplier and we had the contract to drop trailers that were set up as commisaries for crews fighting fires in California.

We had the contract with the US dept of forestry, and Cal fire. I remember a salty old firefighter showing me how the privately managed forests (Louisiana Pacific) that bordered the state managed forests were were barely affected as the forest floor was managed, and the downed wood was cleaned out. When a fire took place it was easily controlled.

Not the case with the state and federal lands where clearing of wood was forbidden, and when it was suggested, lawsuits were filed saying that decomposing wood was a better course of action.

“When fires happen on governmental lands, it is holocaustic as a result” the old firefighter told me. “Watching wildlife running from the forest with their fur on fire is something that you do not forget”. He was a government employee!

That was over 20 years ago, so sad that something that is so predictable, is disregarded by people with a political agendas and beholden to “environmental organizations” that wield so much power.

It was good to see California governor Gavin Newsome admit today that there have been serious miscalculations in forestry management, let’s see if it is followed up by meaningful actions.

Ronv69
Nice shed!

I was thinking about buying 10 acres of forest - all surrounded by forest - and putting a shed like that on it - as a cabin.
The wife thought it was a great idea until she found out I didn't plan to have sewer, water or electricity - at least not what she considered sewer, water and electricity. (Outhouse, water tank, generator)

City girls! 😁
My wife hates camping too. But she came around. I can get 13 acres here with water and septic for $8k. As long as she can shower without going outside she's fine. She will come around if you really want it.

Love the shed, hope you get some rest in the coming months.

Thanks. What's the weather doing?