The new campfire thread...ooooh purrrrty!!!!!!

[Fenlason]

Thanks Kerry... her surgery sounds pretty scary.. but the surgeon was pretty matter of fact about it. It doesn't sound like that big a deal.. Of course anything with the eyes sounds scary to me.

I had a follow up appointment on my neck today. They aren't really sure what's going on. Everything looks good from their point of view.. except for having many of the symptoms back. I was basically told.. sometime the nerves heal.. sometimes they don't.

Laurie went with me.. and we ended up taking the day off... and stayed up there. Our friend Asa is the master brewer and part owner of a micro brewery up there. They have just expanded to a new location.. that they are still working on.. we stopped in for a quick visit. [they were in the middle of a canning batch.. and things were pretty hectic. We got there at maybe 11:00 and Asa says.. you want a beer.. I didn't really want a beer and an emptyish stomach.. and then have to drive.. but he just wanted us to taste it.. said we could drink what we wanted and then pour it out. That just seems wrong.

We then went to look at Rooftop tents.. and stopped at a bike shop. Rose Bike.. the guys came down here to ride our trails a month or so ago..

 

[toypusher]

Can't believe it has been that long since I posted here!

Did Laurie already have the surgery? My BIL is having cataract surgery on one eye today and the other one in I thing 5 days from now. Not sure on the timing of that. Anyway hope all is well.

 

[Fenlason]

Laurie's Surgery is next Tuesday the 11th. She is anxious about it, but also anxious to get it done. Her eyesight is rapidly getting worse. We will be traveling a bit for it, as they want to check it fairly often. It is at least fairly close.. vs Boston or something. It's about an hour and 20 minute drive. She has surgery Tuesday... and they want to see it the next day. [we will stay over night for that].. then back again in a couple days... and back a few more times.
Otherwise I guess things are good here. We have mostly been working in the woods, although we have worked on the house some also.

I have sold some bikes!! A friend John, had commented a couple of times on a photo of one of my old race bikes. I told him it might be available.. then mentioned I had a mate to it. He purchased mine for himself, and was hoping to get his wife into it. She currently has a fatbike, but wanted something different. It paid more than I wanted for the first [I told him that]. He also had mentioned looking for a frame to build up a bike for his son. I gave him a real good price on the second bike.. and through in an older one of Laurie's for his son.

Then a few weeks later he mentioned that a friend of his was looking for such and such a bike.. did we have anything? Well Laurie's last race bike was just the ticket, and we sold that one.

Just recently we got two new ones. They are Fatbikes.. but very light fatbikes. They were demos that Dave had.. that were going to be sold off. He has a small, medium, and a large. Angela took the small, Laurie the medium, and I the large. It was basically payment for our work this summer. They have a bit of small scratches from being carted around, but otherwise seem to be in pretty good shape. We will now have two of our older fatbikes for sale.

 

[toypusher]

WOW! long time since I posted here. End of season for mowing has been interesting and very consuming. First my co-worker was going to take my place for next season, then he was going to just buy the business out right. Then I got a new part-time co-worker and he ended up buying the mowing ONLY part of the business. So, I did stay on for a week to help him get used to the yards and customers that he will be serving. Now I am off for the winter. Have lots to try to get done before the snow flies though.

 

[Fenlason]

Dang.. I was just about to claim victory and ask for my Thread Killers T shirt...

Good to hear from you.

Things are going here. We are probably doing more trail work.. than other stuff.. but I do also put time in house building.. firewood processing etc.

We have had a ton of appointments [doctors and dentist] Some of it routine.. some not. I had my yearly physical.. and had a routine colonoscopy for that... as well as blood work. My white blood cell count was low.. so I go next week for more blood work to recheck that. Laurie has a lot of appointments around her eyes. Things are doing ok there, although it's a long process. Her next surgery is next week, and we will have 3 trips to Portland for that... and my blood work is next week also. So 4 of the 5 days we will need to be somewhere.

This week we are free.. which is the first in some time I think.

Good luck getting prepped for winter.

 

[toypusher]

Hope Laurie's surgery goes well.

I did get my lawn mowed, but been too busy in the basement going through things and trying to rearrange things. Still need to do trim work and trim hedge and some other decorative bushes. I have 7 large evergreen trees in the back yard and it looks like 2 of them are dying at this point. Not sure though.

Doctor's appointment tomorrow morning at 0730!

 

[Fenlason]

I hope your appointment went well.

I should mow my lawn one last time, and did a little of that this morning. I have someone coming out for a ride shortly. He's a regular but couldn't make last night's ride. There were going to be two.. but the other has had to work extra.

We supposed to have a rainy weekend. We have also had some rainy days this week... which cut into the work we had hoped to do.

I just ordered a new leaf blower. A little while ago, I was thinking I have my trail tool set up.. fairly complete..... but then I stopped by my dealer.. just to pick up oil.. and he tells me about a new bigger blower... He didn't say how big.. so I kind of dismissed it. Then someone else said something.. and I investigated it further. It has a LOT more blowing power, without any appreciable weight increase. I already had 2 blowers. I sold the older smaller one yesterday. I went by the dealer to get my name on the list. They are not available yet, but will be in sometime in the next month or so.

My first blower put out mid 600 CFM of air.. the next.. was 750.. which was quite noticeable [although the reason I purchased it was the comfort.] This new one puts out 1070 CMF It's @#$^@!* Huge. Even the blower tube is massive. They used carbon fibre in the frame to keep the weight down. This should help out a lot with or trail work... speeding things up.

Hmm I have purchased a few things this year. [I don't recall if I have said] A new smaller top handle saw. It looks like a toy... but is great for trail work. I also purchased a new mid sized regular chain saw. I have an old Husqvarana that I replaced. [the oil pump had gone]. Much of the new tools were smaller things. Like a nice shoulder slung lopper sheath. A Mcleod, a Pulaski.. pruning handsaw. chainsaw tongs and hook belts and sheaths for these. A new arrow quiver to use to carry our marking flags. I have rebuild / added specific storage spots on the RTV. We have a fairly nice and efficient set up now.

 

[toypusher]

Always nice to have lots of good equipment for the job. What is the model of the new blower?

My old boss has my handheld blower and I need to get it back, plus my final paycheck for season. Rainy here today, but most of tomorrow should be half decent.

 

[Fenlason]

The new blower is an Echo PB-8010T https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Blowers/PB-8010T

Today is the first day of hunting season.. [residence only today, then everyone Monday] In the past our trail system would be pretty barren.. well that's changing. Lee had mention he would have a few people out.. and there.. and there are a few others that have moved in on the other road. I was going to do trail work along our shared line with Lee [on his side just a little]... and we saw a few hunters just in the little trip out to it... so we headed back to the house. We figured we didn't need to be out there at all... especially on the first day.

We did some clean up on a trail right near the road.. and at the edge of the lawn in places. We are supposed to have rain and snow today.. and so-so tomorrow and Monday.

 

[toypusher]

Thanks for the link. Don't think I would ever need anything that big.

No snow around here yet. Just rain.

Spent an hour or so and made a bench in the garage to sit and change shoes, etc. Have been just sitting on my toolbox out there to change shoes.

 

[Fenlason]

Laurie's Surgery is in the morning. Although not as early as the last one. We have to be there at 10 something.. vs 7 something. We are looking forward to getting this done.

We did get a little snow.. but it warmed up [a little] and turned back to rain.. and at least around here the snow melted. We went to a demo event yesterday with Dave. It was small enough he could have handled it himself.. but It was more "fun" with us there.

It was a memorial ride.. about an hour north.. a friend has been trying to get us to go for some time. I might have worked it and done the ride.. but it was cold and rainy. [temps in the upper 30's ] Even with the weather they had around 50 riders.

We are rainy again today.. well it wasn't bad this morning.. but is raining pretty good now. I had my blood work done this morning.. and did a few errands.. then came home and did some bush hogging.

We are supposed to have a rainy week. We will have to go back for follow ups for Laurie's eye.. Wednesday and Friday.

 

[toypusher]

Rainy day here. The closing on my inlaws house is today. Yesterday my BIL moved into our basement. Should be there 2 or 3 weeks while the estate is finally settled and then he is off to Florida with his new truck and fifth wheel. Gonna be kinda weird with someone in the basement, but it is only for a short time.

Hope Laurie is doing good.

 

[Fenlason]

No rain here today.. but much of the week doesn't sound all that great.

Laurie is doing pretty good. She was able to do some work for work.. here on her computer..at home this morning. That type of work is still pretty tough [as would me expected.] Her next follow up is tomorrow. Her vision has improved a bit since Friday.
I am puttering around here today. I am picking up a bunch of big plastic pipe tomorrow.. and am getting my trailer out. I had some lumber that was stored on it.

The pipe is 8" id.. very think wall. They are installing natuaral gas in the state.. and they use this for their main lines. If any of this sits out in the sun too long.. they can't use it. They have to pay quite a bit to dispose of it, and are happy to get rid of it. It will make great culverts for us. John and Dan delivered some a couple weeks ago.. John, Laurie and I will get a bit more Wednesday. 300-400 feet worth.

We had a heavy frost this morning.. but haven't had that many yet.

 

[toypusher]

Always good to get free stuff that you can use.

We have had frost 3 or 4 times already, but Sat night it is to get down to mid 20's. That will be the first actual Freeze for this season.

 

[Fenlason]

Laurie's 3rd follow up was yesterday. He had to re-bubble the eye, but overall things looked good, and her vision was surprisingly pretty good. [early for that]

We finally have some sun today... but it's very wet out.. we received a bit more rain yesterday.

We went and picked up some pipe [ culvert] this morning... we got about 370 feet this load. They have more.. and I suspect I will go get it... or at least some of it. Last year at this time they had about the same amount.. and it cost them about $5,000 to dispose of it. They can only keep it so long.. and right now this stuff can't be used, and it's in the way for plowing.

 

[toypusher]

Good news for Laurie!

Cool deal on the pipe! It was sunny this morning, but clouded over and there is a bit of mist in the air. Supposed to be sunny tomorrow and then rain all day Friday. 50 degrees tomorrow and then not supposed to hit even 50 for the next 10 days or so, maybe longer.

I was going to mow today (for last time), but due to all the rain yesterday, it is too wet. I did do trim work and will mow tomorrow afternoon hopefully.

 

[Fenlason]

We had sun and almost 60 degrees yesterday. Cooler today, but still warmish.. still pretty descent sun also. Tomorrow later we are to have rain.

We worked in the woods this morning... then did some errands after lunch. Groceries.. lumber.. and checking on my saw. I had the same yard guy as I had the other day.. he tried giving me super board vs the shiplap I ordered. I caught him and corrected him. Then I was given boards of different lengths.. and he didn't bother to check them. Occasionally a short one will get put in the wrong place. This time it was one just a little long...[ 6" so it should have been obvious] he didn't even seem aware.

My new little saw hasn't been running right.. I brought it in Monday.. and went to check on it today, and they hadn't even looked at it yet. I was pissed.. and they new I was pissed. I purchase a LOT from them..I have been a customer for years... I don't shop around or hound them for deals. This was a new [few months] saw that was not running right. I suspected it was running rich. He finally decided to have someone look at it then.. I waited.. it was a 15 - 20 minute fix.
A simple fix.. why not do it. If it was more serious and needed parts.. at least get those on order. I understand if I am just looking for regular service.. I get in their regular schedule and wait. If I wait until the first snow.. to get my snowblower serviced.... then I know [and deserve ] to wait a while.

I have that leaf blower that I was, going to purchase from them... and have been looking at a snowblower.

 

[toypusher]

Rain and 45 degrees and windy! Feels pretty cold out there.

Putting off final mowing until Monday, I think.

 

[Fenlason]

hmm I don't remember what else we did yesterday, but we did do trail work. oh.. Yeah we went and picked up more culvert material. They did have more full lengths.. and some other cut pieces.. they also had some other smaller stuff that had fittings installed. I can use some of that for weird projects. They also had a big roll of 2"ID stuff. [250 feet] We took most of what they had. They did also say they have about this much available each year.

It is the perfect time of year to rough out new trails, and I had another connector in mind. It was through an area that can be wet.. or an area with a lot of wet spots in it. We did find a nice line through. It worked out perfectly to make an alternate connection between a couple of trails. We got it roughed out pretty good.

We have snow and rain today.. we have 1" plus of snow on the ground this morning.. and then rain. It's more misty now.. but quite wet out. I do hope to get out for a little trail work. I would say our mowing is done for the year.. it is quite wet out, but I think everything was pretty good anyways.

I do need to start thinking about getting the snow tires on... and maybe get the tractor ready for winter.

I am hoping it's a while before we get snow that lasts.. and that thing freeze up first. Hmm typically I like it when it doesn't freeze.. for that helps it to melt faster come spring. I would like some time on frozen ground to do more work in the woods.

 

[Fenlason]

We had more snow the night before last.. it did later turn to rain.. and most of it melted. Over night it cooled off. We had 20 degrees this morning.. and it was very very windy. We had pretty good sun, but it did not warm up more than a couple of degrees.

Laurie has worked a few hours each day so far this week. She drove Monday.. and decided she really wasn't ready for that yet. She has another follow up appointment tomorrow. It's fairly early in the morning. So we will have to get up early.

Last night we took Angela out for dinner. It was her birthday, and Dave was still away. He was flying home yesterday so the three of us picked him up last night after dinner. The timing worked out perfect. We were done dinner and there earlier than he was due.. but he arrived about the time we did.

It was a rather small plane from Boston to Augusta.. there were only 3 passangers and the Pilot. The pilot asked Dave if he wanted to sit in the co-pilots seat.