The Fallen Tree...........

Got the camera out again today. The tree that fell on our heating boiler had covered the boiler with leaves and branches, so much of the damages was covered.

With the clean up in full swing, we're getting a chance see just how bad things are.

The house surround is gone now. Most of the supporting structure of the building was trashed. In the picture to the left, the main supporting structure was a 4" x 4" with two additional married 2" x 4"'s which failed under the trees weight. The next two images are the back corner the platform--to the left of picture.

This is the rear corner of the platform. The water's been drained to alleviate some of the weight. We have to clear enough area so we can get the backhoe in to lift the boiler off the platform, so we can begin rebuilding.

Woods beginning to piling up!

The Fallen Tree.....written & sung by Laura ElderShortly after the tree came down I ran across Laura Elder's YouTube video. Her song spoke of how dear a tree can become over the years. And the emotions of loosing a tree. But it was simply too coincidental NOT to enquire about the use of her song. Plus, she's a fellow mountain dulcimer artist, too!!! So I contacted Laura for permission to use her wonderful song on my blog. I hope you enjoy her work as much as I did! Check out her YouTube channel "foothillsOH", for MANY MORE wonderful songs! Thanks Laura!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Two other unusual happenings took place today.

.While gather eggs from the chickens John found a poor little bird, dead on the floor. We've speculated that it maybe it flew into the wire and injured itself, fell and died, we simply don't know?

BUT, the bird isn't a species that I'm familiar with? Maybe you can help me identify it?

(My apologies for being so macabre!)

Notice it has a reddish brown streak running from it's nose/beak to the back of its' head, with two black stripes on either side of the brown streak. The predominate color of the body is a dark olive green. It has black streak running from underneath it's beak to it's neck. The breast has heavy black streaking but the streaks dissipate as the near the belly area.

What a shame!!!!! I really hate to see this happen!!!

Annette comes through again!!!!!!!!!! This little bird's identity is the 'Ovenbird'...NO JOKE!!! Don't believe us....Check the link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ovenbird

I've left the very best for last!

A couple very, very sweet and special friends brought me a,

'WEAVING LOOM'!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And if that's not fabulous enough they also brought us a throwing wheel for clay pot making!!! It was dark when they arrived so I'll didn't get a chance to take any pictures. But asap I'll post some.

Pancakes and wood smoke

I'm looking forward to this weekend as my dulcimer group, The Mixed-Up Strings, will perform at the Loyal Oak's Cider Festival. One of the Norton Boy Scout Troops prepare a fundraiser pancake breakfast. We perform from 8 am to noon, with periodic breaks. It's a long day for us but the group looks forward to the breakfast every year!!! Buttermilk pancakes, ham, orange juice and a beverage--YUM!

It seems like we've been working on the downed tree for ever!!! There's an old saying that goes, 'wood heat is the only heat source that warms you twice! Once when you cut/split the wood and the second time when you burn it for heat.' I in 100% agreement with that! This past weekend I've divided my time into helping John splitting and stacking wood as well as cleaning the barn floor, cleaning cage trays and making accommodations for my hybrid NZ's who were due to kindle. (Two of the three does kindled.)

Needless to say that after several days of hauling and stacking wood my old bones aren't very happy with me!

We've quite a bit of dead wood that John cut about three weeks ago, it's in the woodlot. Our neighbor, who has a backhoe, has generously offered to move the cut wood in the bucket of the backhoe over to our boiler. BUT, Murphy's reared his ugly face again, as the backhoes developed some problem. It's okay, as it will allows us more time to work on the large tree in the yard.

Following the tree damage to the boiler, we've realized more damage to the boiler's surround than expected. The surround and platform will have to rebuilt before really cold temps hit. The boiler will have to be lifted from it's platform prior to a completely shelter rebuild. :- 6 The trees weight broke several 4" x 4"'s of the platfore and shelter structure.

Hopefully, we'll have it finished before the snows fly!!!

Life goes on -- post tree event

Why is it that trees do not appear as large while 'standing' as they do when they're on the ground??? The last couple days have been center around the 'tree episode'. John's been trimming the smaller branches, to expose the made body of the tree. Hopefully the tree will be dismantled and stored away for this winter by this time next week.

It appears as though the 'Beast' (boiler) survived without any major damage. The wooden shelter structure around the boiler took the blunt of the damage and was a life savor. The boiler will still need re-situated upon it's platform but John seems to think every thing else will be fine. (Keep your fingers crossed for us!)

Today the weather's been wonderful...a bit cool but bright and SUNNY! So needless to say the fur was once again flying. Aiden now sport a new light weight wardrobe. I'll still a few more bunz to shear, in the barn. About the time I finish my last bun it'll be time to start all over again. But I really don't mind, it's excellent bonding time for us--human & bunny.

Another topic..........................

I've been working on another task for my dulcimer group, Mixed-Up Strings (http://www3.uakron.edu/schlcomm/White/media/index.htm ).

We're hosting Madeline MacNeil, from Virginia, this coming October. Maddie's a legendary hammer dulcimer artist. She'll share her knowledge and skill tips during three 'hands-on' workshops for both dulcimers--mountain and hammered. She'll be presenting a concert as well, which will be a treat!!! Maddie has a wonderful singing voice and a delightful stage presence. If you've got the time Wednesday evening October 20th at 6:30 pm come on out to Barberton, OH; to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Barberton, 249 Second St., Barberton, OH 44203. Maddies' concert is only $10!!!

What a day

OH BOY!!! What a day yesterday!

Well we decided to take down a rather large Silver Maple tree that stood next to the barn. Over the years huge black ants have been eating away inside it. We've been worried that it'd come down during a storm.

So, a neighbor volunteered to tackle the tree with a bulldozer and a little help from a chain saw.

The plan was to notch the tree so it'd fall into the neighbors' yard, who's yard had absolutely nothing to obstruct the fall.

The neighbor told John to notch the tree in the direction of the planned fall path, while he prepared the bulldozer. The chain saw didn't want to start, which I took as an omen. The notching required a significantly larger blade than John's saw had. It heavily labored during the task at hand.

When the neighbor returned he had yet another neighbor with him plus another chain saw!

NOW! There are three attacking this tree from all sides. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!! With so much testosterone over charging the air (and not enough thought or expertise going into the project) IMHO it's not surprising somethings going to happen. :- (

As I've told everyone, Murphy (from Murphy's Law) lives with us!!!

And, as we all know, too many chef's spoil the broth.

With crazed abandonment from this trio, all cutting and bulldozing away, to each his owns agenda, they were in store for a reality check. What a shock when this once beautiful tree instantly pivoted and hurtled to the ground with nary a warning sound!!!

I've neglected to mention that we heat our house with an exterior wood heat boiler. John worked like a madman last year to prepare the 'Beast' (as we call it) for its first winter. Following all the necessary mechanics it required a shelter from the elements

As you can clearly see from the picture the tree was badly infested with huge black ants. One quarter of the trunk had been eaten away by the ants.

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'The Plan'

As for 'the plan', to drop the tree in the neighbors' yard.......it didn't work out quite as they'd planned. Remember that instant pivot the tree made???

Notice the tan colored object nestled under the tree? Well.........................That's the Beast and what's left of it's shelter!

The tree totally removed the roof as well as the insulated stainless steel exhaust pipe, which now looks very similar to a pie tin. It also appears as though the tree moved the Beast off it's platform a couple inches.

The soundness of the water holding tank which surrounds the boiler is now suspect?????

It's going to take more than a couple 2" x 4"'s, some nails and shingles to repair the structure.

All kidding aside, it was a heavenly blessing that someone wasn't hurt!!!!!!!

The tree came down to the northeast. IF, it had come down toward the southeast it would have hit my rabbitry....I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GO THERE!!!!

The only safe directions were to due east OR due west.

As you can see the neighbors' yard was ideal spot for the tree!

But Nooooooooooooooo! Murphy had other ideas!

Ya gotta hand it to the fella, he didn't fly off the handle or rant and rave or even go off the deep end....as many others would have done. He was soulfully grateful that NO ONE was injured.

So now you have it! My escapade for Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010.

And also the knowledge that I now have MANY MORE gray hairs on my head than I had Aug. 31st, 2010!

I think I'll go have a glass of wine!!!