To whom it may concern,
I've got work lined up for at least two months, which is more than most these days.
I've traded some labor for a sailboat.
It was 80 degrees today.
That is all.
16 years ago
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Boing
Well Hello there spring chicken! The cute little chicks of 8 weeks ago are looking more and more hen-ish every day. They're out in the coop now and if its warm enough we let them venture out into the chicken yard. I've been pretty busy working. I'm back to timberframing. we're working on a four-bent two story frame in Douglas Fir. We just started laying out posts and connectors today. For the last three days we had been working on a barn restoration in the North Whitefield. My truck was all loaded up with staging and tools from that job in the picture below.
In the background you can see a set of braces for another frame that I helped cut recently, as well as the my motorcycle and a Fisher Minute-mount plow that I bought a few weeks back. As you can see, the grass is greening up nicely with the April showers. What you can't see is that the driveway is still a mud-pit as we enter Mud-Season Part II: Return of the Ruts. To top it off, the truck needs new tires, so the mud really gets slick. I'm thinking of lifting the truck 3 inches or so and getting a set of more aggressive tires so I don't get stuck as often. We still haven't gotten the garden in. Maybe we'll get some peas planted this weekend. Its supposed to be 74 degrees on Saturday. I managed to kill all my seedlings by splitting them up and then forgetting to water them because I was busy working. I think I'll try again though, putting fewer seeds in each peat-pot and watering them more often.
I said ooh, aah fhwgds.....
-w--
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Planting
Greetings,
Since the yard is a big mud pit and the tractor won't start (without a jump) and I was gettin' antsy about gardening, I went out and bought a bunch of seeds to start (and some more to plant when the ground dries out). So here is how much gardening adventure begins with a bunch of seeds, eight-packs and some potting soil. So far I've got lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, turnips, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and chives/garlic started. By the time they need to be transplanted, the ground should be a little closer for cultivation. I've got big plans!
(Help! my hand is caught in the jaws of a potting soil monster!)
Some of the veggies I plan to grow.
A little update on vehicle performance to please the numerically and automotively inclined. After 10 months of ownership and 21500 miles (its at 107500 now), the Benz continues to carry us wherever we wish to go with little complaint. Winter took its toll on the fuel economy and body with the car now averaging 23.35 mpg and having developed some small rust spots around the wheel wells and the drivers side door threshold. At that mileage rate (with fuel costs averaging 2.929 from 91/93) the car costs about $.125 per mile for fuel, $.113 per mile for repairs etc, and $.152 per mile for payments on the loan. All of that adds up to exactly $.39 per mile for the all in cost of running the vehicle, which seems low but its due for a tuneup (Benz's need periodic infusions of cash to keep them happy, so ~$500-1000) and for insurance at the end of this month. Those will certainly bring the cost per mile closer to the IRS deduction rate of 55 cents per mile. But the numbers don't lie, a working-class couple with no children can afford a newish Mercedes if its bought used/pre-broken-in.
The truck, oh the truck, how I wish I would have bought a bigger one! After 6 months and 6274 miles of driving, the truck has averaged 14.47 mpg and (at an average fuel cost of $1.968 for 87) $.131 per mile for fuel. Repairs and maintenance have been minimal at $.06 per mile, while loan payments come to $.39 per mile! which brings the truck's all in cost to about $.59 per mile which will be even higher soon as I plan to put a lift kit on it, new tires, and a plow (and pay new insurance...). In the final analysis, the truck is (per mile) way more expensive than the Mercedes, but it is a necessary tool for my carpentry business, otherwise I'd probably drive a little honda or something (I ran the numbers on adding a 35 mpg or so honda civic to the fleet and even saving $4/day on fuel it doesn't even come close to making financial sense).
Anyway, I find it incredibly interesting to see where all the money goes.
----W----
Since the yard is a big mud pit and the tractor won't start (without a jump) and I was gettin' antsy about gardening, I went out and bought a bunch of seeds to start (and some more to plant when the ground dries out). So here is how much gardening adventure begins with a bunch of seeds, eight-packs and some potting soil. So far I've got lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, turnips, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and chives/garlic started. By the time they need to be transplanted, the ground should be a little closer for cultivation. I've got big plans!
(Help! my hand is caught in the jaws of a potting soil monster!)
Some of the veggies I plan to grow.
A little update on vehicle performance to please the numerically and automotively inclined. After 10 months of ownership and 21500 miles (its at 107500 now), the Benz continues to carry us wherever we wish to go with little complaint. Winter took its toll on the fuel economy and body with the car now averaging 23.35 mpg and having developed some small rust spots around the wheel wells and the drivers side door threshold. At that mileage rate (with fuel costs averaging 2.929 from 91/93) the car costs about $.125 per mile for fuel, $.113 per mile for repairs etc, and $.152 per mile for payments on the loan. All of that adds up to exactly $.39 per mile for the all in cost of running the vehicle, which seems low but its due for a tuneup (Benz's need periodic infusions of cash to keep them happy, so ~$500-1000) and for insurance at the end of this month. Those will certainly bring the cost per mile closer to the IRS deduction rate of 55 cents per mile. But the numbers don't lie, a working-class couple with no children can afford a newish Mercedes if its bought used/pre-broken-in.
The truck, oh the truck, how I wish I would have bought a bigger one! After 6 months and 6274 miles of driving, the truck has averaged 14.47 mpg and (at an average fuel cost of $1.968 for 87) $.131 per mile for fuel. Repairs and maintenance have been minimal at $.06 per mile, while loan payments come to $.39 per mile! which brings the truck's all in cost to about $.59 per mile which will be even higher soon as I plan to put a lift kit on it, new tires, and a plow (and pay new insurance...). In the final analysis, the truck is (per mile) way more expensive than the Mercedes, but it is a necessary tool for my carpentry business, otherwise I'd probably drive a little honda or something (I ran the numbers on adding a 35 mpg or so honda civic to the fleet and even saving $4/day on fuel it doesn't even come close to making financial sense).
Anyway, I find it incredibly interesting to see where all the money goes.
----W----
Friday, April 3, 2009
All loaded up.
Greetings from the Country Estate,
Its been a busy week here, with most of the snow melting, lots of mud, and work, work, work on this and that. I'm trying to figure out how and where to do a garden, knowing that it probably won't yield very much this year. We'll see what happens. Knowledge of how to grow your own food is essential country dweller knowledge, so I better get started.
In other news, I feel great knowing that my ownership of GM vehicle is backed by the most powerful government on the planet. Now I know who to call when it breaks down.
We've made a half-hearted attempt at boiling our own maple syrup this year. Like the gardening, I think next year will be better....
I've been busy trying to get my own economic stimulus package going. Lately, an opportunity to work in a furniture/cabinet shop has opened up, so I've been sanding stool seats and legs a bit this week ( see the stools here or below). Coming up I'll be lending a hand to our glass-blowing friends over at Tandem Studio and Gallery who are in the middle of a gallery remodel at their studio in Dresden, ME. If you're in the market for hand-made glass anything, give them a holler!
The truck all loaded up with brace stock.
Its not that often that I have a good reason to stand on top of the truck, so I take all the chances I can get.
Three week old chickens, examining the wider world of the laundry room. Occasionally one gets pushed out and lands on the floor looking incredibly bewildered.
Its been a busy week here, with most of the snow melting, lots of mud, and work, work, work on this and that. I'm trying to figure out how and where to do a garden, knowing that it probably won't yield very much this year. We'll see what happens. Knowledge of how to grow your own food is essential country dweller knowledge, so I better get started.
In other news, I feel great knowing that my ownership of GM vehicle is backed by the most powerful government on the planet. Now I know who to call when it breaks down.
We've made a half-hearted attempt at boiling our own maple syrup this year. Like the gardening, I think next year will be better....
I've been busy trying to get my own economic stimulus package going. Lately, an opportunity to work in a furniture/cabinet shop has opened up, so I've been sanding stool seats and legs a bit this week ( see the stools here or below). Coming up I'll be lending a hand to our glass-blowing friends over at Tandem Studio and Gallery who are in the middle of a gallery remodel at their studio in Dresden, ME. If you're in the market for hand-made glass anything, give them a holler!
Hand-blown tumblers.
The truck all loaded up with brace stock.
Its not that often that I have a good reason to stand on top of the truck, so I take all the chances I can get.
All loaded up.
Three week old chickens, examining the wider world of the laundry room. Occasionally one gets pushed out and lands on the floor looking incredibly bewildered.
More chickens exploring the chicken condo.
I've added a roosting board in the middle since many of them are beginning to roost on various things in the condo. They still all sleep in a pile near the heat lamp though.
That's the news from the Country Estate. Until next time, like Garrison Keillor says, Be well, Do good work, and Keep in touch.
----w----
----w----
Thursday, March 26, 2009
new chicken house
This is the new chickens' house. They needed a new place to keep them safe from the three Maine 'coon cats. We think they like it, as they've made themselves at home like chickens do. Some of them have already learned how to roost, but they still sleep on their bellies wherever they get tired of walking. They'll probably be too big for it soon though. That's ok because soon we'll get some meat birds in there!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Stunning
Greetings,
A few empirical statistics on this site.
And people are still surprised that we have no television....
KT just got a book called Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander (no his name is not a joke...), 1978.
I just got two books. A little architectural history, the classic Big House, Little House, Backhouse, Barn by Thomas C. Hubka. A study of the connected farm buildings of New England.
I also got Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business by Sarah Beth Aubrey.
Back to the land. Need I say more?
----W----
A few empirical statistics on this site.
And people are still surprised that we have no television....
KT just got a book called Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander (no his name is not a joke...), 1978.
I just got two books. A little architectural history, the classic Big House, Little House, Backhouse, Barn by Thomas C. Hubka. A study of the connected farm buildings of New England.
I also got Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business by Sarah Beth Aubrey.
Back to the land. Need I say more?
----W----
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mudseason and Chickens!
With lots of snow and rain comes mudseason in March:
The area behind the car port.
The Driveway a few days ago. It is worse now.
The breezeway is already starting to smell like chickens.....
We successfully completed our taxes yesterday, something I consider a major milestone of adult responsibility. If it were just a couple W-2's and a refund, no problem, but we had something like 6 W-2's, 3 1099's, 3 1098E's, a schedule C, and a section 179 from several different states. Despite owing the government a considerable amount, I was happy to see that our overall tax burden is pretty small, much less than it would be if were 'successful' in economic terms.
That's how it looks from the Country Estate.
---w---
The area behind the car port.
The Driveway a few days ago. It is worse now.
With the arrival of mudseason comes this years chicks. There are 26 in the kiddie pool. All different kinds. Theoretically I own 1/3 of them, although I have no idea what to do with them or how to take care of them just yet.
The breezeway is already starting to smell like chickens.....
We successfully completed our taxes yesterday, something I consider a major milestone of adult responsibility. If it were just a couple W-2's and a refund, no problem, but we had something like 6 W-2's, 3 1099's, 3 1098E's, a schedule C, and a section 179 from several different states. Despite owing the government a considerable amount, I was happy to see that our overall tax burden is pretty small, much less than it would be if were 'successful' in economic terms.
That's how it looks from the Country Estate.
---w---
Friday, March 6, 2009
Back in the saddle
Greetings...
This week found me back in Maine, toiling with timbers. A friend/co-worker and I get to cut the timberframe joinery for a carriage house to be raised this summer. To cut costs we're doing all work outside, so we're relatively dependent on good weather.
On the left are 18 timbers that I have been working on. They will become 17 joists and 1 connector. At this point, they are planed close to the correct dimension and I am about to rough cut the joinery, in this case a soffit tenon. On the right are 4 rafters that Andy is working on as well as 4 finished rafters and 4 finished girts. The temperature first thing in the morning was 3 degrees above zero (Fahrenheit).
Closer up to see all the planer shavings
This week found me back in Maine, toiling with timbers. A friend/co-worker and I get to cut the timberframe joinery for a carriage house to be raised this summer. To cut costs we're doing all work outside, so we're relatively dependent on good weather.
On the left are 18 timbers that I have been working on. They will become 17 joists and 1 connector. At this point, they are planed close to the correct dimension and I am about to rough cut the joinery, in this case a soffit tenon. On the right are 4 rafters that Andy is working on as well as 4 finished rafters and 4 finished girts. The temperature first thing in the morning was 3 degrees above zero (Fahrenheit).
Closer up to see all the planer shavings
Near the end of the day, the joinery is complete with chamfering and holes for the 3/8" spikes that will hold the joists in the girts.
Hopefully there will be more work where this came from.
----w----
Hopefully there will be more work where this came from.
----w----
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