"Only" got up to 83 today as compared to the 97 degrees yesterday and 101.8 on Friday. THEY keep saying a chance of T-storms but nothing ever shows up on the radar. Terry and I cancelled a trip into New Jersey yesterday for an open house at my niece's. The forecast here was for 98-100 and there for 100-105. Too bloody hot to be traveling 500 miles round trip unnecessarily. (Sorry Kristen!)
I spent a few hours each afternoon in the basement where even that temperature has risen to 70 degrees. Usually it's between 65 and 68 degrees down there, but the very late afternoon sun has been shining in the walkout French doors and adjacent windows warming things up. That and the two escape wells on the southwest side of the house are--although vented--regular greenhouses. Sorting through computer hardware that no longer is compatible with anything I've got and software/floppy disks that I may or may not ever use again. Hardware/drives can go to the dump eventually. The useless CD's can be turned into 1) targets or 2) deer reflectors around the garden, but what can I do with all the hundreds of floppy disks? I've no need for that many drink coasters.
******
Terry and I will be heading out early tomorrow morning to go blueberry picking again. I can never get enough blueberries! There are still a few ripening raspberries around the yard but they are small due to the heat and lack of rain. (Yeah we got 1.5 inches last Monday and--maybe--a dozen drops since then. Between their predictions for temperature and rainfall, the Old Farmers' Almanac really screwed the pooch this month!) The blackberries are not yet ripe on the hill. When the do turn from their current green color, I expect them to be hard as marbles from lack of moisture. If I pick any for my breakfast cereal, I'll have to watch out that I don't crack any teeth.
******
That's about it from the Aerie for now. Time to head off to the air conditioned bedroom for some shuteye.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Still Hot, Hot, Hot! (Enough already!)
Got up to 101.8 degrees late this afternoon on the Aerie thermometer. That is by far the hottest it's been since we moved in at the end of '06. Tomorrow, while not quite so hot will still be in the mid to upper 90s and Sunday will be more of the same. We may get a break on Monday with some T-storms ushering in a cool (not cold!) front and temps in the mid to upper 80s. Average high in these here parts for this time of year is 82-85 degrees.
Maybe I'll set the sprinkler out tomorrow and sit on a lawn chair for a bit. Well water can be a tad chilly though. Might shock my system. Maybe a beer ortwo four first to create some internal cooling. And numbness.
Maybe I'll set the sprinkler out tomorrow and sit on a lawn chair for a bit. Well water can be a tad chilly though. Might shock my system. Maybe a beer or
While I was stripping...
...Terry was in the kitchen putting up some dill relish from the cucumbers we have harvested. The slicing, chopping and dicing went well and the product of her labors looks yummy. It could have used a little color from yellow and red peppers but we didn't have any on hand. As a result, we have a completely green product.
Cup Jars of Dill Relish
Terry packaged these in cup jars and then sealed them in the boiling water manner. THAT took its toll. Boiling water for 10 minutes in (at that time) 94 degree heat (outside temp, 86 degrees inside)! No wonder early settlers opted for a separate summer kitchen. As the photo shows, she sealed seven jars and the leftovers are in an eighth jar in the fridge for immediate use.
Cup Jars of Dill RelishTerry packaged these in cup jars and then sealed them in the boiling water manner. THAT took its toll. Boiling water for 10 minutes in (at that time) 94 degree heat (outside temp, 86 degrees inside)! No wonder early settlers opted for a separate summer kitchen. As the photo shows, she sealed seven jars and the leftovers are in an eighth jar in the fridge for immediate use.
Finish Stripping 101
As the afternoon temperatures on Thursday climbed to 97 degrees at the Aerie (104 was the reading at the Elmira-corning Airport according to weather.com and AccuHunch), I "escaped" to the slightly cooler garage to strip the finish off a pair of old headboards and foot boards for twin beds that were once used by my sister and I as kids. The beds date to at least 1958 and have never been refinished. The wood appears to be maple. I once stripped the dresser and chest on chest that were part of this bedroom set and those pieces are sitting in the basement being used for storage.
When Terry and I were new home owners way back in 1973, I took it upon myself to strip the paint off our old home's solid wood panel doors. Each door was two-over-two; that is, had two square panels on the bottom and two larger rectangular panels on the top. Each panel was bevel edged and was surrounded by cove molding. And each door had a gazillion layers of paint on it. (The house was built around 1906 and this was the first time these doors were stripped.) THE product of choice for that task was something called Zip-Strip. It took me all summer and about eight gallons of stripper to clean the doors so I could repaint them. Zip-Strip worked but I could only get three coats of paint off at a time. It also was extremely volatile--and not in a good way--which is why I did all my work on a set of saw horses set up in the back yard. By the end of the summer the fumes from the Zip-Strip may have damaged some brain cells...or maybe it was all the beer I drank while toiling away in the hot afternoon sun. I figure the beer to Zip-Strip ration may have been 3:1, maybe even 4:1.
The bed pieces had only one coat of finish on them (varnish?) so I thought I'd give something else a try. I had read about an orange colored and odored product called Citristrip and found it on the shelf at Lowe's. The fact that the directions say it's safe to use indoors and makes no mention of using it in a well ventilated area intrigued me. Could it be that safe and un-obnoxious? It claims to work on varnish, paint, other finishes, and many, many coats, too. As a gel, it should cling to the work, no? So, even with a price of $18 for half a gallon, I thought, "Why not?"
Let me tell you something: Citristrip is Great Stuff!
I applied it as directed using a paint brush, waited 30 minutes and used a plastic scraper--also as directed--and watched the finish come right off. Little or no elbow grease needed. That simple. If I left the gel to sit for a longer time, it did dry somewhat, but it still scraped off easily--perhaps even more so as it didn't run. (The package says it will stay moist for up to 24 hours, but that must be with a much thicker application than I used.)
The only caveat on the use of the stuff is to NOT use in direct sunlight or when there's a stiff breeze blowing. They're worried about evaporation. I was concerned about the heat so the garage was the ideal place to be! (The basement would have been cooler, but the cats....) There was a slight orange citrus aroma that beat the tar out of the strong, head spinning vapors other strippers produce. (I did open the window and garage bay door when I popped the top on the mineral spirits--just to be safe.)
I finished up using a stainless steel scrubbing pad and some mineral spirits to get the last of the stripper and goo off the pieces. With a little light sanding with very fine grit paper, the pieces are now ready for a fresh coat of paint. Or, perhaps, even a staining.
Citristrip is biodegradable and easily washes off your hands with soap and water. Same for any spatters you may get on your clothes. Latex gloves or their ilk are recommended for when you're scraping, however. That residual paint and stain doesn't come off so easily.
My work was on a single layer of finish, if dealing with multiple layers, a thicker application and longer sitting time may be necessary.
My only problem with Citristrip is also a plus: It is so thick it's nearly impossible to get out of the plastic jug it is sold in! They should market it in squeeze tubes like toothpaste so you can get that last little bit out of the container! (Not that I have to worry about that for a while. The four pieces--both sides--only required a little over half the jug--call it a pint+ used. And just one beer.) This thickness is a plus if you were working on door or window moldings or anything that is vertical. Citristrip will stick around on those surfaces to do the job.
[Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of W.M. Barr & Co., Inc., Memphis TN, manufactures of Citristrip. I have received nothing from them in making this endorsement of their marvelous product. However, should they wish to contact me....]
When Terry and I were new home owners way back in 1973, I took it upon myself to strip the paint off our old home's solid wood panel doors. Each door was two-over-two; that is, had two square panels on the bottom and two larger rectangular panels on the top. Each panel was bevel edged and was surrounded by cove molding. And each door had a gazillion layers of paint on it. (The house was built around 1906 and this was the first time these doors were stripped.) THE product of choice for that task was something called Zip-Strip. It took me all summer and about eight gallons of stripper to clean the doors so I could repaint them. Zip-Strip worked but I could only get three coats of paint off at a time. It also was extremely volatile--and not in a good way--which is why I did all my work on a set of saw horses set up in the back yard. By the end of the summer the fumes from the Zip-Strip may have damaged some brain cells...or maybe it was all the beer I drank while toiling away in the hot afternoon sun. I figure the beer to Zip-Strip ration may have been 3:1, maybe even 4:1.
The bed pieces had only one coat of finish on them (varnish?) so I thought I'd give something else a try. I had read about an orange colored and odored product called Citristrip and found it on the shelf at Lowe's. The fact that the directions say it's safe to use indoors and makes no mention of using it in a well ventilated area intrigued me. Could it be that safe and un-obnoxious? It claims to work on varnish, paint, other finishes, and many, many coats, too. As a gel, it should cling to the work, no? So, even with a price of $18 for half a gallon, I thought, "Why not?"
Let me tell you something: Citristrip is Great Stuff!
I applied it as directed using a paint brush, waited 30 minutes and used a plastic scraper--also as directed--and watched the finish come right off. Little or no elbow grease needed. That simple. If I left the gel to sit for a longer time, it did dry somewhat, but it still scraped off easily--perhaps even more so as it didn't run. (The package says it will stay moist for up to 24 hours, but that must be with a much thicker application than I used.)
The only caveat on the use of the stuff is to NOT use in direct sunlight or when there's a stiff breeze blowing. They're worried about evaporation. I was concerned about the heat so the garage was the ideal place to be! (The basement would have been cooler, but the cats....) There was a slight orange citrus aroma that beat the tar out of the strong, head spinning vapors other strippers produce. (I did open the window and garage bay door when I popped the top on the mineral spirits--just to be safe.)
I finished up using a stainless steel scrubbing pad and some mineral spirits to get the last of the stripper and goo off the pieces. With a little light sanding with very fine grit paper, the pieces are now ready for a fresh coat of paint. Or, perhaps, even a staining.
Citristrip is biodegradable and easily washes off your hands with soap and water. Same for any spatters you may get on your clothes. Latex gloves or their ilk are recommended for when you're scraping, however. That residual paint and stain doesn't come off so easily.
My work was on a single layer of finish, if dealing with multiple layers, a thicker application and longer sitting time may be necessary.
My only problem with Citristrip is also a plus: It is so thick it's nearly impossible to get out of the plastic jug it is sold in! They should market it in squeeze tubes like toothpaste so you can get that last little bit out of the container! (Not that I have to worry about that for a while. The four pieces--both sides--only required a little over half the jug--call it a pint+ used. And just one beer.) This thickness is a plus if you were working on door or window moldings or anything that is vertical. Citristrip will stick around on those surfaces to do the job.
[Disclaimer: I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of W.M. Barr & Co., Inc., Memphis TN, manufactures of Citristrip. I have received nothing from them in making this endorsement of their marvelous product. However, should they wish to contact me....]
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Zucchini Verdict
Joe's zucchini bread recipe produced a bread that's denser, a little drier, less sweet, and less spicy. Not surprising since it contains less oil, sugar and cinnamon but more flour and zucchini. More of a bread than a cake like Terry's. Still, it' s quite good as a light snack or breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea. A schmeer of cream cheese would improve the flavor. (In contrast, Terry's bread requires a glass of cold milk and a napkin to wipe your fingers from the oil. Not that that's a bad thing!)
I give Joe's 4-1/2 stars to Terry's 5 stars. Then again, Terry's is what I'm used to. (And I have to live with her.)
I give Joe's 4-1/2 stars to Terry's 5 stars. Then again, Terry's is what I'm used to. (And I have to live with her.)
Zucchini Bread
Terry tried out a new recipe for zucchini bread this morning. She got it from her cousin Joe as we were picking blueberries on Monday. His recipe calls for two cups of shredded zuke for every loaf instead of just one cup as per Terry's recipe. (I think she's trying to use up the zukes without filling up the freezer with too many bricks of bread.) She mixed up a batch this morning and ended up with three loaves instead of two. (She said she didn't want to fill the pans to the brim afraid that they might rise too much and run over.) There's some ginger and lemon zest in these that Terry normally doesn't use. There's also about half the cinnamon. They cooked faster than Joe said they would (probably because of the under-filling of the pans) but look great. The taste test will come later today.
Zucchini breads cooling on the rack.
I've said it before: Zucchini bread is like manna from heaven. It's difficult to imagine how much is too much. (At least until you start adding up the cost of flour, sugar, cinnamon, etc.)
Zucchini breads cooling on the rack.I've said it before: Zucchini bread is like manna from heaven. It's difficult to imagine how much is too much. (At least until you start adding up the cost of flour, sugar, cinnamon, etc.)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
(Still) Hot, Hot, Hot!
Broke the 90 degree barrier at the Aerie today. Just a little but that's enough. It was hotter elsewhere in the region. One report I saw said 95 over in Elmira, NY. Might have been higher. A short period of cloudiness between 1 and 3 o'clock this afternoon kept it a wee bit cooler.
This heat wave just saps all your energy and desire to go outside and do any work. I've got firewood to stack and some more to cut and transport down from the hillside. And Accuhunch is saying it's likely we'll be having highs around the 90 degree mark right through next Tuesday. Could be worse. Lots of places seeing the century mark on their thermometers.
******
Terry helped load the loveseat, chair and ottoman into the truck this morning and then we went over to the dump to get rid of them. Slowly getting control of space and "stuff" issues. Funny how solving one solves the other.
We picked some string beans this afternoon. After a single day of NOT picking, we got quite a few. I pulled a couple of onions that had gone to the dead-head stage of their life. Two were rotten, but the other four, while not terribly large, were sound enough to keep. Also got some cucumbers and three nice sized zucchini. (There are going to be three or four more zukes ready for picking in the near future.) If it weren't so darn hot, Terry would be baking more zucchini bread for the freezer. As it is, she says she'll shred a bunch up and freeze that in packages that can then be pulled out for baking a batch of bread when it's cooler.
******
Took delivery of our new cocktail table late this afternoon. With the gateway legs and folding top, it opens up to a huge surface area suitable for jigsaw puzzles or an impromptu sit-on-the-floor dinner for four. Looks as nice in front of our (new) couch and fireplace as it did in the store.
This heat wave just saps all your energy and desire to go outside and do any work. I've got firewood to stack and some more to cut and transport down from the hillside. And Accuhunch is saying it's likely we'll be having highs around the 90 degree mark right through next Tuesday. Could be worse. Lots of places seeing the century mark on their thermometers.
******
Terry helped load the loveseat, chair and ottoman into the truck this morning and then we went over to the dump to get rid of them. Slowly getting control of space and "stuff" issues. Funny how solving one solves the other.
We picked some string beans this afternoon. After a single day of NOT picking, we got quite a few. I pulled a couple of onions that had gone to the dead-head stage of their life. Two were rotten, but the other four, while not terribly large, were sound enough to keep. Also got some cucumbers and three nice sized zucchini. (There are going to be three or four more zukes ready for picking in the near future.) If it weren't so darn hot, Terry would be baking more zucchini bread for the freezer. As it is, she says she'll shred a bunch up and freeze that in packages that can then be pulled out for baking a batch of bread when it's cooler.
******
Took delivery of our new cocktail table late this afternoon. With the gateway legs and folding top, it opens up to a huge surface area suitable for jigsaw puzzles or an impromptu sit-on-the-floor dinner for four. Looks as nice in front of our (new) couch and fireplace as it did in the store.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Aerie Report, July 19, 2011
Peaceful day at the Aerie. Another near 90 degree scorcher with higher relative humidity due to yesterday's rains. (We got 1.5 inches of rain in that short cloudburst according to the rain gauge.)
Terry took her sick little Mac Notebook to the Apple Store in Syracuse today, did some shopping at the mall while she was there, and then scooted over near Troy for a stitching meeting of some sort. She should be home any minute now.
(The Apple crew determined the Mac's power source was not working and needed to be replaced. "Could it be because Chester keeps chewing the cord?" Terry asked. "No. The part he's NOT chewing has failed. It's okay though 'cause its still under warranty and it will be no charge." "Well, he never chewed on the old cord." "They changed the formulation of the plastic. The new stuff smell nicer which is probably why he chews at it even when you hit him on the head.")
I loaded up some junk (the furniture I brought down from the Bolt Hole, some stuff I literally dug up on the side of the house, an old bike that Rick was going to try and repair, and two boxes of old loose leaf binders I was saving for some long forgotten reason) and hauled it all over to the dump. I've still got the love seat, a chair and an ottoman to take over but I'll need Terry's help loading the love seat. It's just a wee bit too bulky to lift to the tailgate easily. And with the cap on the Tundra's bed I'll have some trouble hauling all three pieces at once but with some strong rope, I might be able to do it. But that's for tomorrow. This afternoon, I stayed in the basement (fairly steady 67 degrees in the summer) and cleaned a few things up.
Terry took her sick little Mac Notebook to the Apple Store in Syracuse today, did some shopping at the mall while she was there, and then scooted over near Troy for a stitching meeting of some sort. She should be home any minute now.
(The Apple crew determined the Mac's power source was not working and needed to be replaced. "Could it be because Chester keeps chewing the cord?" Terry asked. "No. The part he's NOT chewing has failed. It's okay though 'cause its still under warranty and it will be no charge." "Well, he never chewed on the old cord." "They changed the formulation of the plastic. The new stuff smell nicer which is probably why he chews at it even when you hit him on the head.")
I loaded up some junk (the furniture I brought down from the Bolt Hole, some stuff I literally dug up on the side of the house, an old bike that Rick was going to try and repair, and two boxes of old loose leaf binders I was saving for some long forgotten reason) and hauled it all over to the dump. I've still got the love seat, a chair and an ottoman to take over but I'll need Terry's help loading the love seat. It's just a wee bit too bulky to lift to the tailgate easily. And with the cap on the Tundra's bed I'll have some trouble hauling all three pieces at once but with some strong rope, I might be able to do it. But that's for tomorrow. This afternoon, I stayed in the basement (fairly steady 67 degrees in the summer) and cleaned a few things up.
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Productive Day at the Aerie
Terry and I met with Joe for breakfast at Gramma's Kitchen this morning before we all went over to Murphy's Blueberry Farm to pick some. The mid-season bushes were loaded with juicy ripe berries. Joe got himself about 6 pounds and Terry and I combined for a little over 8 pounds of blueberries in about two hours of picking. Joe then headed home to near Jersey Shore and Terry and I went back to the Aerie.
With rain in the forecast, I picked string beans right after lunch and got over a quart. I also harvested three small cucumbers and half a dozen cherry tomatoes from our one potted plant.
Then it was time to do something with the blueberries. I got the fixin's and equipment out and processed seven pint jars of Blueberry Jam. We then put a quart of berries in the freezer and another in the fridge for breakfast cereal and ice cream topping and Terry took some out for muffins. She's set aside more for some blueberry buckle later this week.
Blueberry Jam
Blueberry Muffins
Late this afternoon, some rain did finally find its way to the Aerie. Heavy, heavy rain fell for over an hour and soaked everything. It fell so quickly that the ground had trouble absorbing it. There was a little rivulet of muddy water along the base of the slope behind the house. Runoff from the covered porch--the only area without any gutters--washed some of the stone I had there to slow it down out onto the lawn. Puddles formed in the garden where my heavy foot has packed the soil into hardened clay. And the bird bath over flowed.
You could almost hear the trees and lawn heave a great sigh of relief. This was the first measurable rain we have had since the late June. The concern I was starting to have about our well water supply has been eased considerably. There's still a chance of some more rain tonight.
With rain in the forecast, I picked string beans right after lunch and got over a quart. I also harvested three small cucumbers and half a dozen cherry tomatoes from our one potted plant.
Then it was time to do something with the blueberries. I got the fixin's and equipment out and processed seven pint jars of Blueberry Jam. We then put a quart of berries in the freezer and another in the fridge for breakfast cereal and ice cream topping and Terry took some out for muffins. She's set aside more for some blueberry buckle later this week.
Blueberry Jam
Blueberry MuffinsLate this afternoon, some rain did finally find its way to the Aerie. Heavy, heavy rain fell for over an hour and soaked everything. It fell so quickly that the ground had trouble absorbing it. There was a little rivulet of muddy water along the base of the slope behind the house. Runoff from the covered porch--the only area without any gutters--washed some of the stone I had there to slow it down out onto the lawn. Puddles formed in the garden where my heavy foot has packed the soil into hardened clay. And the bird bath over flowed.
You could almost hear the trees and lawn heave a great sigh of relief. This was the first measurable rain we have had since the late June. The concern I was starting to have about our well water supply has been eased considerably. There's still a chance of some more rain tonight.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Hot and Dry. Very Dry.
Another hot, sunny day here at the Aerie with only a 50% chance of rain in the forecast--for tomorrow. That rain, should we get it, would be more than welcome even if it is, as they predict, in the form of strong T-storms.
Yesterday was so dry it was ridiculous. The barometer nearly pegged out at the upper end above 30 inches where it says "Very Dry" on the dial while the hygrometer dipped down to just below 40% Relative Humidity yesterday. We're flirting with those numbers again today.
Walking on the "lawn" should NOT sound like walking on glass shards. And, if you were dumb enough to do so barefooted, it would probably feel like walking on glass shards, too. Trees are beginning to looks stressed and I'm concerned about the amount of water our well can supply. So far, it's been good, but there will come a time when the aquifer will need replenishment.
Terry and I have toyed with the idea of getting a small kiddie pool at WalMart for hot days like these, but concluded it wasn't worth it. It would take too much water to fill the pool and that water might attract bugs, bears and other critters if we didn't empty it each time we used it. In a sunny area, the water would heat up much too quickly to yield any cooling aid. And the pool would need to be on a thick tarp so stones from below didn't puncture it. Left in one spot for more than a few days, it would kill the "lawn" underneath. So we'll go without. If we ever get really, really hot and can't get cool in the basement, then we'll use a sprinkler and lawn chair. The "lawn" would appreciate that.
Yesterday was so dry it was ridiculous. The barometer nearly pegged out at the upper end above 30 inches where it says "Very Dry" on the dial while the hygrometer dipped down to just below 40% Relative Humidity yesterday. We're flirting with those numbers again today.
Walking on the "lawn" should NOT sound like walking on glass shards. And, if you were dumb enough to do so barefooted, it would probably feel like walking on glass shards, too. Trees are beginning to looks stressed and I'm concerned about the amount of water our well can supply. So far, it's been good, but there will come a time when the aquifer will need replenishment.
Terry and I have toyed with the idea of getting a small kiddie pool at WalMart for hot days like these, but concluded it wasn't worth it. It would take too much water to fill the pool and that water might attract bugs, bears and other critters if we didn't empty it each time we used it. In a sunny area, the water would heat up much too quickly to yield any cooling aid. And the pool would need to be on a thick tarp so stones from below didn't puncture it. Left in one spot for more than a few days, it would kill the "lawn" underneath. So we'll go without. If we ever get really, really hot and can't get cool in the basement, then we'll use a sprinkler and lawn chair. The "lawn" would appreciate that.
Bumper Sticker Message
Seen in the parking lot of the WalMart Super Center on Route 15 south of Mansfield, PA. On any given day we can find vehicles from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas...just about any place that has an interest in drilling or piping natural gas from our Marcellus Shale deposits. This truck, however, has PA plates and the message is from a landowners' co-op involved with mineral (natural gas) rights.
Note two things before you move on:
"Pass Gas It's a Movement"
Oh, and the whitetailgas.com? That's a company (Whitetail Natural Gas Services) working every aspect of the gas production arena. And the RIT sticker is for Rochester Institute of Technology.
Yeah, nothing but a bunch of hicks and bitter clingers out here in the wilds of north-central Pennsylvania.
Note two things before you move on:
- 1) This is a new truck. Paid for by drilling/mineral rights lease?
- 2) This is a new FORD truck, not one of the bailed out Government Motors models. There is a Chevy dealer in town as well as a Ford dealer. Not sure what the message may be in that.
"Pass Gas It's a Movement"Oh, and the whitetailgas.com? That's a company (Whitetail Natural Gas Services) working every aspect of the gas production arena. And the RIT sticker is for Rochester Institute of Technology.
Yeah, nothing but a bunch of hicks and bitter clingers out here in the wilds of north-central Pennsylvania.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Company at the Aerie
And so our company has come and gone. Jim and Pat arrived around noon on Thursday on their way to the Green Bay area of Wisconsin. Terry had prepared a nice stuffed cabbage and kielbasa dinner for them which we all enjoyed before heading out to the western parts of Tioga County.
I think they were equally impressed with all the gas drilling and pipeline laying activity as they were by the nearness of Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon and the beauty of Hills Creek State Park.
The view from Leonard Harrison State Park on the east rim of the Pine Creek Gorge was a spectacular as ever and there were several Turkey Vultures soaring on the late afternoon thermals right off the viewing area.
Jim and Pat at the Leonard Harrison SP overlook on Pine Creek Gorge
(aka The Grand Canyon of PA)
The view south down the Canyon
Tioga County CCC Worker.
(Jim says he used to look like that
when he was flying helicopters in Nam.
I told him he's two, maybe three, times the man now.)
We stopped in Wellsboro to enjoy a pizza at Tony's, too.
Arriving home, I had just enough light to pick some more string beans and a few zukes before watering the garden. We're still getting between a pint and a quart of string beans a day from the little 6'x6' area I planted. The cucumbers, however have taken a beating from the lack of rain and the ground hog's grazing and don't look like they will be producing enough for Terry to make many pickles this year. The dryness has caused the zukes to slow down--something Terry is thankful for since it means less baking in the warm temperatures we've been getting.
******
Friday morning we headed up to Tioga-Hammond Lakes and Ive's Run Recreation Area before heading on up to Corning and its Glass and Rockwell Museums.
I was hoping to see some Bald Eagles over at the Tioga-Hammond overlook but all we spotted were a pair of Ospreys. There were a couple of new additions to the overlook area, however. They've put up a new interpretive sign explaining the connecting weir between the two lakes. Hammond Lake is the cleaner of the two lakes--Tioga suffers from the mine drainage all the way upstream from Blossburg--and is five feet higher. The connector mixes the clean water of Crooked Creek/Hammond Lake with the contaminated waters of the Tioga River. Along with the flow from Mill Creek, this makes the Tioga Lake a suitable habitat for Crappie and Bass. They've also added a flag pole to the lookout area and the Army Corps now flies the American Flag from this high point.
View south of Tioga Lake from the Tioga-Hammond Lakes Overlook
We drove around the day use areas of Ive's Run Campground and then stopped in to talk to the volunteer at the Visitors' Center. The gardens there were mostly in bloom and Pat and Terry enjoyed them if not the two rattlesnakes in the terrarium inside. It was explained that they are allowed to keep only two and these, one light phase and one dark, were "collected" at the volunteers' campground. Gave Terry second thoughts about camping there again!
A few of the Cone Flowers at the Ive's Run Visitors' Center
We went up to Corning to the Museum of Glass where we viewed the displays and watched a live demonstration of glass blowing. That little show is different every time I see it and is still impressive as all get out. I also watched a littler demonstration of sculpting with glass as an artist made a small dog sculpture--four legs, tail, head, ears and open mouth--from a couple of glass rods and a special gas/oxygen torch all in about 15 minutes.
Jim plays with fire at the Glass Museum
Then it was lunch time and we went to Sorge's for some fine Italian food.
After lunch, it was time for the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. This is a small museum but the quality of its permanent displays and the temporary displays is well worth the time. (Especially since you can get a discounted price on a combo ticket with the Museum of Glass.) I enjoy the few pieces from Remington and Russell that they have but the special exhibitions they currently have--Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians--Andy Warhol, of all people!, and the Wild West: Beauty of the Beast of wildlife paintings by various artists dead and alive were very, very nice. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures in those last two galleries.
End of the Trail by James Earle Fraser (1876-1953)
(I always thought this was a Fredric Remington piece!)
This is about how I was feeling as the day wore on.
After a long day, we made it back to the Aerie where I picked more string beans and did some more watering. Then we sat around a talked about this that and the other thing before heading off to bed.
******
This morning Chester sounded the alarm at 5 freakin' 30 AM. I stumbled out of bed and let them in to the bedroom (a rare treat) but they insisted upon going downstairs for breakfast. So we did. I made coffee while they (the cats) ate. Terry came down when Shadow noticed she was missing and went up to get her. Pat and Jim got up shortly there after for omelets and bacon. They were packed, out the door, and headed on their way to Niagara Falls (then Canada, Michigan, and finally Wisconsin) by their scheduled 8 AM. They've got to be in Green Bay by Sunday night and should be able to make that no sweat.
So we've had our company and the guest bedroom is empty--for now. What are you doing?
I think they were equally impressed with all the gas drilling and pipeline laying activity as they were by the nearness of Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon and the beauty of Hills Creek State Park.
The view from Leonard Harrison State Park on the east rim of the Pine Creek Gorge was a spectacular as ever and there were several Turkey Vultures soaring on the late afternoon thermals right off the viewing area.
Jim and Pat at the Leonard Harrison SP overlook on Pine Creek Gorge(aka The Grand Canyon of PA)
The view south down the Canyon
Tioga County CCC Worker.(Jim says he used to look like that
when he was flying helicopters in Nam.
I told him he's two, maybe three, times the man now.)
We stopped in Wellsboro to enjoy a pizza at Tony's, too.
Arriving home, I had just enough light to pick some more string beans and a few zukes before watering the garden. We're still getting between a pint and a quart of string beans a day from the little 6'x6' area I planted. The cucumbers, however have taken a beating from the lack of rain and the ground hog's grazing and don't look like they will be producing enough for Terry to make many pickles this year. The dryness has caused the zukes to slow down--something Terry is thankful for since it means less baking in the warm temperatures we've been getting.
******
Friday morning we headed up to Tioga-Hammond Lakes and Ive's Run Recreation Area before heading on up to Corning and its Glass and Rockwell Museums.
I was hoping to see some Bald Eagles over at the Tioga-Hammond overlook but all we spotted were a pair of Ospreys. There were a couple of new additions to the overlook area, however. They've put up a new interpretive sign explaining the connecting weir between the two lakes. Hammond Lake is the cleaner of the two lakes--Tioga suffers from the mine drainage all the way upstream from Blossburg--and is five feet higher. The connector mixes the clean water of Crooked Creek/Hammond Lake with the contaminated waters of the Tioga River. Along with the flow from Mill Creek, this makes the Tioga Lake a suitable habitat for Crappie and Bass. They've also added a flag pole to the lookout area and the Army Corps now flies the American Flag from this high point.
View south of Tioga Lake from the Tioga-Hammond Lakes OverlookWe drove around the day use areas of Ive's Run Campground and then stopped in to talk to the volunteer at the Visitors' Center. The gardens there were mostly in bloom and Pat and Terry enjoyed them if not the two rattlesnakes in the terrarium inside. It was explained that they are allowed to keep only two and these, one light phase and one dark, were "collected" at the volunteers' campground. Gave Terry second thoughts about camping there again!
A few of the Cone Flowers at the Ive's Run Visitors' CenterWe went up to Corning to the Museum of Glass where we viewed the displays and watched a live demonstration of glass blowing. That little show is different every time I see it and is still impressive as all get out. I also watched a littler demonstration of sculpting with glass as an artist made a small dog sculpture--four legs, tail, head, ears and open mouth--from a couple of glass rods and a special gas/oxygen torch all in about 15 minutes.
Jim plays with fire at the Glass MuseumThen it was lunch time and we went to Sorge's for some fine Italian food.
After lunch, it was time for the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. This is a small museum but the quality of its permanent displays and the temporary displays is well worth the time. (Especially since you can get a discounted price on a combo ticket with the Museum of Glass.) I enjoy the few pieces from Remington and Russell that they have but the special exhibitions they currently have--Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians--Andy Warhol, of all people!, and the Wild West: Beauty of the Beast of wildlife paintings by various artists dead and alive were very, very nice. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures in those last two galleries.
End of the Trail by James Earle Fraser (1876-1953)(I always thought this was a Fredric Remington piece!)
This is about how I was feeling as the day wore on.
After a long day, we made it back to the Aerie where I picked more string beans and did some more watering. Then we sat around a talked about this that and the other thing before heading off to bed.
******
This morning Chester sounded the alarm at 5 freakin' 30 AM. I stumbled out of bed and let them in to the bedroom (a rare treat) but they insisted upon going downstairs for breakfast. So we did. I made coffee while they (the cats) ate. Terry came down when Shadow noticed she was missing and went up to get her. Pat and Jim got up shortly there after for omelets and bacon. They were packed, out the door, and headed on their way to Niagara Falls (then Canada, Michigan, and finally Wisconsin) by their scheduled 8 AM. They've got to be in Green Bay by Sunday night and should be able to make that no sweat.
So we've had our company and the guest bedroom is empty--for now. What are you doing?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Oh my gosh!
Denny's got the scoop over at his place.
If you're a beer drinker, know a beer drinker, or wish to become a beer drinker, it behooves you to check it out: Beer (containing female hormones) has been proven to turn men into women!
If you're a beer drinker, know a beer drinker, or wish to become a beer drinker, it behooves you to check it out: Beer (containing female hormones) has been proven to turn men into women!
Aerie Report, July 13, 2011
Wahoo! We actually got 27 drops of rain this morning. No. Really. I counted each and every one. Not long after, however, the sun emerged and dried everything up...again. The sun played peek-a-boo all day long with the puffy cumulus clouds gradually thinning until now--coming on 5:30 PM--there's nary a cloud to be seen. At least the temperatures have moderated considerably. Today's high was around 3:30 PM with a reading of 81 degrees. The steady breeze out of the north northwest has brought cooler temps and may result in a low tonight in the 50s--something that's been a rarity lately.
I went out this morning and weeded the perennial bed in front of the main entrance. It really needed it badly. A small clover-like weed had taken over all the spaces between the flowers and, while green, looked hideous. Of course, when I got done, all the bare dirt looked even worse so it was off to Agway for some nice red cedar mulch and four or five new plants to fill things in. As a result, I ended up working through the hottest part of the day with the sun beating down on me.
I'll be outside shortly harvesting more string beans and watering the vegetables and flowers. The lawn is starting to look sere but I'm not going to water that no matter what. If it dies, it dies and I'll start over. THEN I'll water, but not before. (The TV weatherman out of Elmira, NY says we are not in a drought because--get this--we've had 0.4 inches of rain this month! Maybe in Elmira, buck-o! The Aerie has had less than 0.1 since July 1.)
Terry, meanwhile, was inside baking zucchini bread. She got eight loaves of the stuff for the freezer and has enough shredded zucchini for two more. That also went in the freezer--for now. In a couple of days, she'll have another half dozen large zukes to shred and will be able to bake up even more loaves of this savory manna.
The cats meanwhile did what cats do best--imitating throw pillows. Except when it's meal time or when they (very vocally) demand snacks. I like their schedule.
I went out this morning and weeded the perennial bed in front of the main entrance. It really needed it badly. A small clover-like weed had taken over all the spaces between the flowers and, while green, looked hideous. Of course, when I got done, all the bare dirt looked even worse so it was off to Agway for some nice red cedar mulch and four or five new plants to fill things in. As a result, I ended up working through the hottest part of the day with the sun beating down on me.
I'll be outside shortly harvesting more string beans and watering the vegetables and flowers. The lawn is starting to look sere but I'm not going to water that no matter what. If it dies, it dies and I'll start over. THEN I'll water, but not before. (The TV weatherman out of Elmira, NY says we are not in a drought because--get this--we've had 0.4 inches of rain this month! Maybe in Elmira, buck-o! The Aerie has had less than 0.1 since July 1.)
Terry, meanwhile, was inside baking zucchini bread. She got eight loaves of the stuff for the freezer and has enough shredded zucchini for two more. That also went in the freezer--for now. In a couple of days, she'll have another half dozen large zukes to shred and will be able to bake up even more loaves of this savory manna.
The cats meanwhile did what cats do best--imitating throw pillows. Except when it's meal time or when they (very vocally) demand snacks. I like their schedule.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Aerie Report, July 12, 2011
Still hot and dry here at the Aerie. A mid 80 degree sunny day which had only the steady breeze and 50% relative humidity as saving graces.
A pretty quiet day at the Aerie today. I mean besides the watering of the garden, putting the new AC in the master bedroom; cutting the grass; picking wild raspberries; weeding the onion bed; picking string beans, cukes and zukes; watering the garden--again.
In between, Terry and I did some cleaning up in preparation of company coming on Thursday. Terry's cousin (Jim) and his wife (Pat) from Columbia, South Carolina will stop by for a couple of days. Jim has several allergies and is very allergic to cats. The guest bedroom is (relatively) cat free but the remainder of the house.... So it was a couple of hours of vacuuming, cleaning the cats' beds, clipping the cats' claws, dusting, etc. Even so, Terry's got an itinerary planned that will keep folks out of the house and touring the sights in and around Tioga County. The Grand Canyon, Hills Creek SP, Wellsboro, Corning, Watkins Glen, Finger Lakes wine country...there's a lot to see and do. We're looking forward to their arrival.
A pretty quiet day at the Aerie today. I mean besides the watering of the garden, putting the new AC in the master bedroom; cutting the grass; picking wild raspberries; weeding the onion bed; picking string beans, cukes and zukes; watering the garden--again.
In between, Terry and I did some cleaning up in preparation of company coming on Thursday. Terry's cousin (Jim) and his wife (Pat) from Columbia, South Carolina will stop by for a couple of days. Jim has several allergies and is very allergic to cats. The guest bedroom is (relatively) cat free but the remainder of the house.... So it was a couple of hours of vacuuming, cleaning the cats' beds, clipping the cats' claws, dusting, etc. Even so, Terry's got an itinerary planned that will keep folks out of the house and touring the sights in and around Tioga County. The Grand Canyon, Hills Creek SP, Wellsboro, Corning, Watkins Glen, Finger Lakes wine country...there's a lot to see and do. We're looking forward to their arrival.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Hot! Hot! Hot!
That's the new Three H's around here. Although, Hazy and Humid are still about. It was a farookin' hot, hot day here at the Aerie. The temperature reached the 90 degree mark and the blazing sun made it feel even hotter when you ventured out. Still no rain today or in the near future. Everything is drying up. (Who was that sonfoagun who prayed for the rains of April, May and early June to cease? Can we get him to work on praying for an economic recovery?)
Naturally, with everything dry as a bone, the town (or maybe the gas company) decided it was time to grade the dirt roads around the Aerie. Don't get me wrong, the roads needed grading. There were clusters of potholes numerous enough and large enough that you might think the AF had sent a drone to bomb. Dust has become a regular thing. You hang back from any vehicle in front of you because the dust cloud might clog your cars air filter--and you cant see the leading vehicle if you get too close anyway. All you can be sure of is that it's there--somewhere--ahead of you. Once they (whoever "they" is) finish grading a section of the road, they spread calcium and water on it in the hopes that will keep the dust settled. Sometimes it works.
******
We did our best to help boost the economy in these parts today.
After I watered the garden this morning, Terry and I did venture out. First we stopped at Grandma's on Rt. 15 in Mansfield for a hearty breakfast and then we went over to Murphy's Blueberry Farm to pick. And pick. And pick. We picked for about two hours and, when all said and done, put 19 Ziploc packages--each containing 2 cups--of blueberries into the freezer. Nine quarts of berries for two hours work (and $23.50) isn't so bad. It was too hot to think about making BB jam so they all got froze. This time. Next time--next Monday, weather permitting--may be a different story.
Then we went shopping. The new furniture didn't come with a recliner, but I didn't need one since there are two upstairs in the loft in my TV zone. Nor did they have a matching ottoman which would allow me to put my feet up and relax with my laptop, so we went looking for one (ottoman, that is) at Beiters in Mansfield. We also were in the market for and picked up two new window air conditioners--one 8000 BTU unit for our bedroom so we can semi-retire the 10+ year-old machine that's been doing yoeman's work for us (it will get moved to Terry's TV/sewing room which is smaller in size and lacking a cathedral ceiling) and a second smaller 6000 BTU unit for the guest bedroom. They also had a couple of swiveling stools on clearance which I picked up for my workshop. One is just the right height for working on the scroll saw and the other is perfect for the workbench. (And, should it stay this hot much longer, I'll be spending lots of time down in the (relatively) cool, cool workshop/basement--or in bed--with the AC running.)
Next we stopped at Lowe's to pick up some wooden woven rollup shades for the French doors in the living room. During the summer the late afternoon sun comes in that glass and creates a greenhouse effect. While the glass above the doors will still admit sun, the new shades will cut the amount in half and, hopefully, that will result in a little cooler conditions.
Back home, I installed the new AC in the guest BR and the shades in the living room. (The other AC installation and movement will be done tomorrow AM.) Only bad thing about the shades is the pull cord is on the right side and can not easily be switched to the left because the manufacturer used rivets and not bolts to attach the hardware. This makes things a little dicey for the one over the left side of the French doors. I might have to thing about drilling out the rivets at some point, but, since we seldom open those doors, the shades will do just fine as they are for now.
I also picked string beans, cukes and zukes. We've now got five quarts of beans in the freezer and will probably get a quart a day for the next week or so--unless another ground hog shows up. The zukes we've been getting are just the right size for grilling or steaming--with one exception which will become zucchini bread soon. There are currently half a dozen little zukes (about 4-5 inches long) on the plants. They will be ready for harvest in a day or two. I can foresee a day in the near future when we will allow them to get into the 10-12" range on purpose so they can be used for breads. A fella can only eat so much zucchini before crying, "Enough!" but there there NEVER comes a time when there is enough zucchini bread!
******
Driving around today, Terry commented on how picturesque the hay fields look with their rolled up bales of hay sitting there ever hundred feet or so. We saw a few places where the farmer had recently cut his hay bit had not yet baled it. The stuff was laying in the hot sun drying nicely. Other fields showed signs of recent plowing but no growth. That made me think about how tenuous things can be for a farmer. Earlier this these guys couldn't get into their fields to cut hay or even plow for planting. Now, while they can cut and bale and plow, they're concern is the need for rain to make that hay produce a second and third crop or for the newly planted seeds to germinate and grow. Farming's a tough and unpredictable livelihood.
Naturally, with everything dry as a bone, the town (or maybe the gas company) decided it was time to grade the dirt roads around the Aerie. Don't get me wrong, the roads needed grading. There were clusters of potholes numerous enough and large enough that you might think the AF had sent a drone to bomb. Dust has become a regular thing. You hang back from any vehicle in front of you because the dust cloud might clog your cars air filter--and you cant see the leading vehicle if you get too close anyway. All you can be sure of is that it's there--somewhere--ahead of you. Once they (whoever "they" is) finish grading a section of the road, they spread calcium and water on it in the hopes that will keep the dust settled. Sometimes it works.
******
We did our best to help boost the economy in these parts today.
After I watered the garden this morning, Terry and I did venture out. First we stopped at Grandma's on Rt. 15 in Mansfield for a hearty breakfast and then we went over to Murphy's Blueberry Farm to pick. And pick. And pick. We picked for about two hours and, when all said and done, put 19 Ziploc packages--each containing 2 cups--of blueberries into the freezer. Nine quarts of berries for two hours work (and $23.50) isn't so bad. It was too hot to think about making BB jam so they all got froze. This time. Next time--next Monday, weather permitting--may be a different story.
Then we went shopping. The new furniture didn't come with a recliner, but I didn't need one since there are two upstairs in the loft in my TV zone. Nor did they have a matching ottoman which would allow me to put my feet up and relax with my laptop, so we went looking for one (ottoman, that is) at Beiters in Mansfield. We also were in the market for and picked up two new window air conditioners--one 8000 BTU unit for our bedroom so we can semi-retire the 10+ year-old machine that's been doing yoeman's work for us (it will get moved to Terry's TV/sewing room which is smaller in size and lacking a cathedral ceiling) and a second smaller 6000 BTU unit for the guest bedroom. They also had a couple of swiveling stools on clearance which I picked up for my workshop. One is just the right height for working on the scroll saw and the other is perfect for the workbench. (And, should it stay this hot much longer, I'll be spending lots of time down in the (relatively) cool, cool workshop/basement--or in bed--with the AC running.)
Next we stopped at Lowe's to pick up some wooden woven rollup shades for the French doors in the living room. During the summer the late afternoon sun comes in that glass and creates a greenhouse effect. While the glass above the doors will still admit sun, the new shades will cut the amount in half and, hopefully, that will result in a little cooler conditions.
Back home, I installed the new AC in the guest BR and the shades in the living room. (The other AC installation and movement will be done tomorrow AM.) Only bad thing about the shades is the pull cord is on the right side and can not easily be switched to the left because the manufacturer used rivets and not bolts to attach the hardware. This makes things a little dicey for the one over the left side of the French doors. I might have to thing about drilling out the rivets at some point, but, since we seldom open those doors, the shades will do just fine as they are for now.
I also picked string beans, cukes and zukes. We've now got five quarts of beans in the freezer and will probably get a quart a day for the next week or so--unless another ground hog shows up. The zukes we've been getting are just the right size for grilling or steaming--with one exception which will become zucchini bread soon. There are currently half a dozen little zukes (about 4-5 inches long) on the plants. They will be ready for harvest in a day or two. I can foresee a day in the near future when we will allow them to get into the 10-12" range on purpose so they can be used for breads. A fella can only eat so much zucchini before crying, "Enough!" but there there NEVER comes a time when there is enough zucchini bread!
******
Driving around today, Terry commented on how picturesque the hay fields look with their rolled up bales of hay sitting there ever hundred feet or so. We saw a few places where the farmer had recently cut his hay bit had not yet baled it. The stuff was laying in the hot sun drying nicely. Other fields showed signs of recent plowing but no growth. That made me think about how tenuous things can be for a farmer. Earlier this these guys couldn't get into their fields to cut hay or even plow for planting. Now, while they can cut and bale and plow, they're concern is the need for rain to make that hay produce a second and third crop or for the newly planted seeds to germinate and grow. Farming's a tough and unpredictable livelihood.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Back at the Aeire
Back at the Aerie after a semi-productive several days at the Bolt Hole. The ride down was an uneventful 4-hour jaunt that has become remarkably routine--almost boring.
Arriving home, I found that there had been absolutely no rain at the Aerie at all. Terry had been watering the garden, but, perhaps, not enough. Everything (cucumbers especially) was wilting in the bright, hot, almost 90 degree sunshine. After we went through an picked (another quart) string beans and a couple of zucchinis, I watered; completely soaking the ground around the cukes and beneath the beans. Late this afternoon, everything was perking up nicely. I'll give everything another dousing in the morning as there's only a 30% chance of late afternoon T-storms on Monday while the temperatures will soar into the 90s.
While picking and watering, I noticed there weresome a lot of leaves missing from the cucumber plants (although the beans right next door were untouched) and wondered what might have decided to supplement its diet with fresh greens. This evening I found out when a ground hog appeared on the lawn right in front of the garden. Being a good little horticulturalist, I grabbed by Gammo air rifle and (hopefully) put an end to that marauder's existence. I say hopefully because it wasn't a completely clean kill. While my shot rolled the critter, it managed to drag itself into the raspberry thicket where I could not get a follow up shot. Still, I believe it was a good hit and the beast will expire. I knew I should have brought the .22 home from the Bolt Hole!
******
Tomorrow, Terry and I will be going blueberry picking at the nearby Murphy's U-Pick Blueberry Farm in Mansfield. We want to go early so as to avoid the heat of the day so will be there shortly after they open the gate at 8 AM. Monday is usually the best time to go because they are closed on Sunday and, therefore, the plants have a double bounty of ripe berries ready for plucking. We missed going last year because we were on the road, but two years ago we were each able to fill a two quart bucket in less than an hour. Tomorrow won't be the only time we'll get there this summer. Cousin Joe and his wife Pat want to get in on the action. They can't make it tomorrow, but might be able to do so next Monday.
******
Oh yeah, the new furniture. The color is remarkably complimentary to to both the carpet and the stone work in the fireplace. The thistle green goes well with the slate-ish greens of the faux stone and the few natural stones. And the chairs are very comfortable. Just ask the cats. If Chester ever gets off the sofa, I might see how it feels to lay down on it. The old love seat was just a tad too short.
Arriving home, I found that there had been absolutely no rain at the Aerie at all. Terry had been watering the garden, but, perhaps, not enough. Everything (cucumbers especially) was wilting in the bright, hot, almost 90 degree sunshine. After we went through an picked (another quart) string beans and a couple of zucchinis, I watered; completely soaking the ground around the cukes and beneath the beans. Late this afternoon, everything was perking up nicely. I'll give everything another dousing in the morning as there's only a 30% chance of late afternoon T-storms on Monday while the temperatures will soar into the 90s.
While picking and watering, I noticed there were
******
Tomorrow, Terry and I will be going blueberry picking at the nearby Murphy's U-Pick Blueberry Farm in Mansfield. We want to go early so as to avoid the heat of the day so will be there shortly after they open the gate at 8 AM. Monday is usually the best time to go because they are closed on Sunday and, therefore, the plants have a double bounty of ripe berries ready for plucking. We missed going last year because we were on the road, but two years ago we were each able to fill a two quart bucket in less than an hour. Tomorrow won't be the only time we'll get there this summer. Cousin Joe and his wife Pat want to get in on the action. They can't make it tomorrow, but might be able to do so next Monday.
******
Oh yeah, the new furniture. The color is remarkably complimentary to to both the carpet and the stone work in the fireplace. The thistle green goes well with the slate-ish greens of the faux stone and the few natural stones. And the chairs are very comfortable. Just ask the cats. If Chester ever gets off the sofa, I might see how it feels to lay down on it. The old love seat was just a tad too short.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Bolt Hole, July 9, 2011
Beautiful sunny day here in the northland. Temperatures remained in the low 70s and the humidity has dropped considerably. A light breeze blowing out of the west northwest makes it even nicer.
Just got done doing 2 hours with the chainsaw. Cut up two maples and a birch that were blown down along the side of the trail on the east side a couple of years ago. Disappointed (but not surprised) that the two maples were already showing some rot in their core. Still, the logs were thick enough that losing four or five inches in the center will still yield me four to six nice pieces of firewood once it's split. The birch (the grey shaggy barked kind) displayed little rot in its core and will make some fine firewood.
What did surprise me was the amount of water that came gushing out of one of the logs. It had a hole facing upward that captured snowmelt and rain in a little interior reservoir. Got my pant legs soaked when I hit that sucker! Water literally poured from the cut surface and, propelled by the chainsaw, was thrown against my shins.
Earlier today, I did a three hour walkabout with the loppers in the woods to the west. Some real nice deer trails in there. This is where Mark and I harvested last year's firewood from three downed maple trees. I might be able to get an ATV load or two from the stumps that we left. Other than that, and except for a couple of fir trees, there aren't any new blow downs to be had for firewood. There are, however, a couple of standing cherry trees that, with all their twists and bends, are good for nothing but firewood. Problem there is that they need a year's worth of seasoning to be any good for burning.
I hesitate to bring fresh wood like that out to the yard or barn. History is not on our side with folks stealing wood from the barn which has no doors. I could cut and stack the stuff in the forest, but the shadiness of the woods will not help it cure properly. Guess I'll have to figure out how to hang some doors on the barn!
Just got done doing 2 hours with the chainsaw. Cut up two maples and a birch that were blown down along the side of the trail on the east side a couple of years ago. Disappointed (but not surprised) that the two maples were already showing some rot in their core. Still, the logs were thick enough that losing four or five inches in the center will still yield me four to six nice pieces of firewood once it's split. The birch (the grey shaggy barked kind) displayed little rot in its core and will make some fine firewood.
What did surprise me was the amount of water that came gushing out of one of the logs. It had a hole facing upward that captured snowmelt and rain in a little interior reservoir. Got my pant legs soaked when I hit that sucker! Water literally poured from the cut surface and, propelled by the chainsaw, was thrown against my shins.
Earlier today, I did a three hour walkabout with the loppers in the woods to the west. Some real nice deer trails in there. This is where Mark and I harvested last year's firewood from three downed maple trees. I might be able to get an ATV load or two from the stumps that we left. Other than that, and except for a couple of fir trees, there aren't any new blow downs to be had for firewood. There are, however, a couple of standing cherry trees that, with all their twists and bends, are good for nothing but firewood. Problem there is that they need a year's worth of seasoning to be any good for burning.
I hesitate to bring fresh wood like that out to the yard or barn. History is not on our side with folks stealing wood from the barn which has no doors. I could cut and stack the stuff in the forest, but the shadiness of the woods will not help it cure properly. Guess I'll have to figure out how to hang some doors on the barn!
Friday, July 08, 2011
Bolt Hole, July 8, 2011
I've now got a working gas stove and oven again. I had to run down to Tractor Supply for the propane hose, regulator and gas tank; and went next door to get some necessary hardware and tools (all but the most basic tools are in the boxes in PA, of course). Got the gas tank filled up on the way back. It took me longer to go down to the store and back than it did to install the stuff once I got home. I had some 12-24" angle iron laying around that was predrilled for 1/4" bolts. Two long pieces got attached to the wall with lag bots and I used five of the shorter ones to create a platform on which the gas tank rests. A 1" hole drilled through the wall allowed me to pass the hose from the woodshed (where the gas tank is located) to the kitchen behind the stove. A little teflon tape on the joints and it was ready to be tested.
Aside from the little wait for the propane to get through the line for the first time, everything works perfectly. I can now fry up things (eggs, bacon, steaks, chops...Hey! I'm getting hungry here!) to my hearts content. I'll also be able to do a roast or bake some cookies. All I need do now is restock the larder with the necessary ingredients.
******
Did a quick walkabout in the orchard but could not determine what was out there last night. There were deer tracks in the sand at the end of the driveway, however, so deer is the likely answer. No new branches bent or broken that I could tell, but the leaves and lower apples have been gnawed at.
******
Terry just called to say that the furniture we bought on Monday was delivered. Well, the sofa and chairs were delivered. The cocktail table will be coming next Wednesday. They forgot to mention that or call to tell us about that change. Terry says the color is perfect. The "Thistle" shade of green goes well with the carpet and the stones in the fireplace. Being lighter than the furniture we took out should help brighten the room, too.
Aside from the little wait for the propane to get through the line for the first time, everything works perfectly. I can now fry up things (eggs, bacon, steaks, chops...Hey! I'm getting hungry here!) to my hearts content. I'll also be able to do a roast or bake some cookies. All I need do now is restock the larder with the necessary ingredients.
******
Did a quick walkabout in the orchard but could not determine what was out there last night. There were deer tracks in the sand at the end of the driveway, however, so deer is the likely answer. No new branches bent or broken that I could tell, but the leaves and lower apples have been gnawed at.
******
Terry just called to say that the furniture we bought on Monday was delivered. Well, the sofa and chairs were delivered. The cocktail table will be coming next Wednesday. They forgot to mention that or call to tell us about that change. Terry says the color is perfect. The "Thistle" shade of green goes well with the carpet and the stones in the fireplace. Being lighter than the furniture we took out should help brighten the room, too.
Things that go bump in the night.
In walking about the yard and reclaimed apple orchard yesterday I was amazed at the number of apples that have appeared on the spindly trees--some of which have snapped or been bent over under the weight of either late snows or the apples on the topmost branches. I could also clearly see where either deer or bear had tramped through the tall grasses amongst the trees to nibble at the lower leaves and twigs. Then last night, at around midnight, something or somethings quite large were out there among those trees making quite a clatter snapping branches and shaking the trees. There was no snorting or stomping so typical of a deer even when I turned on the outside lights. Unfortunately, the foliage is so dense those outside lights did not penetrate into the area where the noise was coming from and I could not determine what it was. My best guess is that it was a bear--or several of them, as in a sow and cubs--plucking the green apples.
Aside from the ruckus, it was a nice night for sleeping as the temperatures dropped in to the low to mid 50s.
Aside from the ruckus, it was a nice night for sleeping as the temperatures dropped in to the low to mid 50s.
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