09-20-10

Well, the cabin is pretty much done.



The only things left are the porch, the sink, a cabinet and some miscellaneous interior trim.
I bought a small air compressor at Harbor Freight and took it up to IC last Wednesday. With that and my Brad nailer, by Friday I had all the bats up, the rear windows trimmed on the outside and all the trim up on the screens. I was just putting the final touches on a system to keep stuff away from the screen by the kitchen counter,



when I saw a blue Chevy pickup driving into the flat.
I recognized the pickup as that belonging to my old friend "Swamp". It had been over a year and it was good to see him again.

Swamp got his stuff and moved in while I finished my project.
We spent the rest of the day visiting.

It was a damp, overcast morning Saturday. Swamp had brought his .45 caliber flint lock pistol up with him and wanted to do some shooting so we set a clay pigeon up against a stump and he blasted away at it for a while. Eventually he got things dialed in and began busting the birds.
the flint lock was having ignition problems because of the moisture in the air so after about an hour he gave it up.
Now, you may think that shooting for an hour would be a lot of shooting but actually we only fired about 10 rounds. The rest of the time was spent wiping moisture out of the pan, sharpening the flint, swabbing sludge from the bore, and reloading. It just proves that Muzzle loader shooting is a great way to pass the time.

The rest of the day, with Swamp's help, I got the last two big windows working.
With all the windows open the place looks like it wants to fly.
He also helped me cut a couple trees off the road up to the spring so now I am ready for Bob to come up to finish up the spring.

It rained Saturday night and continued through Sunday morning.
We left for home around 10:30.

I got home around noon and went to Harvey's football game around 2:30. They lost but it was a close game and Harvey was a key player again.

09-13-10

HI, I'm back.
I was up at Indian Creek from Thursday until Sunday(yesterday).
While I was there I got all the windows made and installed. I got two of windows set up to open. I will do the other two later.

I got the bats put on the right side of the cabin.
Dave lent me a small compressor so I could use my brad nailer to put up the bats and the trim but my generator wouldn't run the compressor so I had to nail them up the old way.
I came home so I could make some more bats and make the steel brackets to support the beams for the porch. Also I am going to try and fix my small compressor or buy a new one. It would sure speed things up as far as putting up bats and trim.

I got back to Santa Rosa in time to go to Harvey's Football game.
It was great!
They won this time and Harvey was a pivotal player. He made three of their four touchdowns and two extra point kicks. Plus he made several important tackles and stops.
Of course we are very proud grandparents.
Naturally, we forgot to bring our camera so we didn't get any video or photos of the game.


More later.

09-07-10

Okay, we are back from IC.
We got home around 6:00 last evening.
I arrived at IC around 2:30 last Monday.
Dave came up on Tuesday, worked on his platform until Thursday, and left Thursday morning. He and Joanne came back up on Sunday and Dave finished his platform but for one board which will have to be custom cut.
Patti came up Thursday afternoon and stayed until Monday. We both came home in her car. I left the van up there and will be going back in a couple days in the jeep.
The weather was very hot all week so we didn't get as much done as I would have liked but we did get all the windows screened and three of the main windows framed.



The windows will be hinged at the top and will be opened by a system of ropes and pulleys. I was not able to actually hang the windows because I bought the wrong hinges.
I had an old round table top in storage that I used to have in my front room as a coffee table. I took it up to the cabin and it fit perfect.



Today I am going to buy the proper hinges and a couple other parts and will be going back to IC by Thursday.
I don't know when I will be coming back to town and I don't know when I will publish the next blog so just keep checking back.

08-30-10
Okay, its Monday.

I will be going to IC today.
First I have to pick up the jeep. It is in the shop for the fuel pump problem.

Yesterday we went to watch our grandson Harvey's team play football.
Unfortunately they lost.

Here is a highlight from the game.


Patti will be coming up to IC on Thursday. We will be staying there until after Labor day so I won't be blogging until after then.

08-26-10

Well its Thursday and the fog came in last night. It is very welcome.
The last few days have been very hot.

Tuesday 08-24-10

It got to 106 in Santa Rosa today.
Around 3:30, I drove over to Bob's to rip the 2X2's that I brought home, on his table saw. The saw is outside and we could only work for short periods of time before we had to take a break. After a few minutes, just standing there feeding
2x2's into the saw I was perspiring so hard that sweat was running into my eyes.
We had to take several breaks but by evening, we had all the 2x2's ripped into 1/2x2.
I had supper with Bob and headed for home.

Wednesday, 08-25-10
Another hot day.

I took the doors and windows off the jeep this morning. I left the top on for shade.
I took Patti out to lunch at Costco. We were going there any way to buy a mattress topper for the bed in "Plan B".
After lunch we went to Friedman Bros. to get some hinges, screws, nails and stuff for the cabin.
I don't know what the temperature was but it was so hot that we couldn't wait to get back to our nice cool house.
We were home for a couple hours when Patti remembered that she had to pick up a book she had ordered so she decided to take the jeep over to the book store.
After around 20 minutes I get a call from Patti. It seams that the jeep wouldn't start when she came out of the store.
I didn't have the keys to her car so I jumped in the van and drove to the rescue.
When I got there I couldn't get the jeep to start. I checked the spark and that was good. I could smell a little gas so maybe it just flooded. I tried to start it a couple more times without success. Okay here we are in a mall parking lot with the jeep stuck about half way out of the spot. What to do?
Then it dawns on me that the jeep is set up to tow. Off I go again back to the house to get the tow bar for the jeep. A few minutes later I am back at the jeep. In order to get the jeep into position I had to use the starter with the jeep in gear. After a short time we had Clifford connected and we were off for home.

Thursday, 08-26-10

It was too hot yesterday to do much with the jeep so I just parked it and will look at it today. I am hopping that it was just badly flooded and will start now that it is cool.

I am going back up to IC on Monday so I will post another blog before then to let you know what's going on.

08-24-10

Okay lets see it's "umm", Tuesday.
Yeah, I know, I said I would write in the blog on Saturdays but I didn't get back home until yesterday and just didn't feel like writing when I got home.

I went up to the cabin last Tuesday, without the generator. I didn't want to take the time to mess with it so I took it to "Gardners Aid".

The first few days at the cabin, I kept a daily log but after 3 days the batteries went low so I stopped keeping the daily log so some of the later stuff is from memory.

08-17-10

Today is Tuesday.
I got a late start this morning. Well, actually, I didn’t get out of Santa Rosa until just after noon. But, I’m retired, so what’s the hurry anyway.
The ride up to IC was easy with very little traffic. It was nice to be able to take time and enjoy the scenery.
When I arrived at the cabin I saw that everything was as I had left it last Friday.
I unloaded the van and got settled into the cabin.
Searching through the scrap lumber stacks nearby I came up with enough pieces of lumber to finish off the bottom half of the siding on the back wall.
I worked on that for a while and cut all the boards to length.
Right now I am sitting at my small table with the keroseen lamp eluminating my keypad so I can see to type. A small fire is crackling in the stove, the stove door is open, I'm listening to some music on my battery operated radio and writing to you.
Which reminds me , I have to quit for now as I am running on battery time and don’t want to waste it.
Till tomorrow then?

08-18-10

It was foggy and cool when I got up this morning.
After breakfast (around 9:30) I started working on the siding for the back wall. I drove Pigpen up to the mill site to see if I could find some more usable lumber. The pickings are getting slim, I did however manage to find a good long 2x4, a couple of 2X2’s and two long pieces of one by.
One is a 1X6 and I think it will be good enough to maybe use for the window casement.
The weather got real warm after lunch so not much work got done until this evening after it cooled down.
I measured and cut the 2X4 to make the frame for the window and got the window rough framed and finished siding that upper section of the wall between the window and the center post.

Okay, batterie’s are going fast so, talk to you tomorrow.

08-19-10

It was a bright clear morning. That means it will be a very hot afternoon.

I began working on the back wall and window some more. I got the window set but I need to buy some “T” hinges and other hardware so I can make it open and close. It will also need to be trimmed out when I trim the rest of the building.
Patti arrived around 2:00 and it is already getting to hot to work. I was happy to see her, especially when I noticed that she had brought the generator.
We took a break until the evening when it became a lot cooler, then we finished the window.

08-21-10

A beautiful clear morning again.
Patti and I concentrated our work on the back wall of the cabin.
We got the whole wall sided although we used up all that was left of one by’s for the siding.
We actually ran short and ended up with a gap in the siding 17 inches wide.
A perfect opportunity for another window. I had to use 2X2's to frame the opening because I am out of 2X4's. and used 1X2's and 1X1's for the actual window frame.



It is glazed with clear plastic film for now.



After supper we drove down to the Grove to visit with Joanne, Dave, Matt, Elisa and her dad Ray. They are spending the weekend at the Grove for Elisa’s birthday.

08-22-10

This morning started cold and foggy. I can hear water dripping of the eaves of the cabins metal roof. Drip....Drip....Drip. I pull the covers over my head and snuggle down in my warm bunk.
A low grumble roles through my bowls.
Oh, Oh.
I jump from my bed, struggle hurriedly into my clothes and bolt from the door. I carefully make my way down the front steps. Then as fast as my gimpy leggs can carry me I begin the hundred plus yard limp to the crapper.
Some day I have to get a septic system dug so we don't have to go all the way out to that Privy.


It stayed cool all day.
Patti and I spent the morning finishing up on the back wall and installed the first screen on the left side front window.


In the afternoon we went down to the grove to have supper with the gang down there.
We bar'b'qued some steaks and asperaguss and had potato salad.



It was Elisa's birthday so for dessert we had the biggest cupcakes I had ever seen.



Elisa really enjoyed hers.




08-23-10

We spent the morning packing Pigpen for the trip home and arived home around 1:00

08-24-10
I am home now to rip some 2x2 down to 1/2 x2 for bats and trim and to re-supply. I probably won't go back up to IC until Monday.

08-09-10

When I arrived at the cabin around 1:00, Joanne and Dave were already there.
We visited for a while and then drove in Dave’s truck down to the creek to get some big rocks for Dave. It took only about a half hour to gather the rocks Then we drove back up the hill, Through the two gates and around the mountain , down the hill and into the “holler” (An old logging flat) where the cabin sits.
A little later I unloaded all the domestic supplies, Bedding, clothing and food from the van; and started moving in.
Joanne and Dave left around 5:00 and I set up housekeeping in the cabin..
Had a simple meal of canned tamales mixed with chili no beans.


08-10-10

I slept in this morning, it was just so nice and warm in my cot that when the sun came through the torn up plastic window in the east wall and shined in my eyes, I just moved my head out of the way and went back to sleep.
I dragged my ugly butt out of bed some time later and after dressing I shambled off for my morning perambulation to the privy, over a hundred yards from my front door.
When I got back to the cabin I fixed my standard breakfast; Oatmeal with raisins, dried cherries, a banana and a cup of hot chocolate.
I lingered over the hot chocolate listening to the peoples radio station of Mendocino County. By around 10:30 I had, had enough. I turned off the radio and went outside to see what I could get done today.
I loaded the generator into the wheelbarrow so I can move it around and moved it off to the side so that when Dave came up we could share the power.
I got my work space all set up with all the tools I thought I would need.
The first job was, to put down a toe board to set the bottom of the siding on.
I pulled a rough cut 1X4 that was over 16 feet long, out of my remaining stack of material.
I got that all measured, cut and installed, then drug a really rough 1X12 onto the work table. I looked it over and figured I might be able to get three 42” pieces of siding out of this 16 foot plank.
I laid my square down on the board about a foot from the broken and splintered end and made a mark across it.
Now it was time to start the generator.
I walked over to the generator turned on the gas valve, turned on the engine switch set the choke and pulled the cord. As expected the generator did not start, they seldom do on the first or even second try.
Okay, so I check the gas and find that it is very low (like empty) so I top off the tank with a jug of fuel that is about a year old. I try again and again but with not even a pop from the engine.
Ok, I am a mechanical kind of guy, I figure no sweat, I can fix this so I put the generator on my work table, I break out my tools and start to take things apart. The first thing I realize is that all the nuts and bolts on this thing are “METRIC” and I have no metric tools with me. Fortunately, I have one very small crescent wrench and am able to get the covers off.



I drained the fuel from the carb bowl and the lines.
After that, I took a short break to let the gas fumes dissipate then tried pulling the cord several more times.
Still no good.
I removed the spark plug and tried to see if there was any spark but it was so bright out there that I couldn’t see a spark so I decided that it was time to take a long break in the shade and ruminate on the situation.
I picked up my current read and my chair and moved into the shade. I read for a while and the next thing I know, the shade has moved and the sun is beating down on the back of my neck waking me up with sweat running down my face and dripping onto the page of the book. I look around blurrily. The sun was still beating on the work table so I decided that it was time for a shower



and maybe a short nap.
As it turned out I didn’t get back to the generator until after supper and around dark. With the plug pulled and laid against the block, I pulled the starter cord and there was a strong spark across the gap.
So now where was I?
I have, spark and fuel and still, no run.
That’s enough for today I'll sleep on it.

08-11-10

Slept in again.
Got to the generator around 10:00.
I had decided to drain the year old fuel and replace it with fresher fuel. I also checked to be sure there was plenty of oil in the crank case. I have found before that some generators have a low oil safety switch that won’t allow the engine to start if the oil is low.
Everything looked ok, so after a suitable time to allow the gas fumes to dissipate I turned on the fuel, then the engine switch, then set the choke.
Okay, here we go! pull the cord! Again! Again!…..Again!……And again!……And Aw shucks, It still won’t start.
Okay I have spent enough time messing with this generator. It is time to get some work done so now its time to fall back to my roots. It’s time to break out….“the hand saw”.


Dave showed up around noon and after visiting for a bit he went down to start working on his spot and platform for his wall tent. By quitting time he had most of his foundation posts set and was almost ready to start laying out the beams.



I was able to get one long side of the cabin sided even though I had to cut every board by hand.
Outside.

Inside.


08-12-10

Woke up at a reasonable time and were ready to get started working by around 9:00
We drove Dave’s truck up to the mill site to get beams and some planks for Dave’s platform. We were back at camp by 10:00 and unloaded the beams and planks from the truck.
I worked on siding for the back end of the cabin. I was hoping that there would be enough “one by” left to build a full height wall covering at least half of the back but I only had enough lumber to cover about a quarter of the wall to full height and there still is a gap of about 4 feet in the short siding.



I am hoping I will be able to scrounge enough wood out of the scrap that is left at the mill site to finish off the back wall.
I have another small window like the one next to the door so I think if I frame it in the right way it may be possible to fill in the rear wall all the way to the center post.

Dave got a lot done on his platform.



I’ll have to finish the siding and windows on the cabin soon so I can get the lumber sorted out for my front porch., then Dave can have what’s left for his decking.

08-13-10

Got up with a back ache this morning so it is probably a good that I planned to head back to Santa Rosa today.
Dave and I each spent some time this morning working on our projects.
I pulled all the 1X4 off the wood stack except for one piece that I am saving and cut the boards down to 8 footers, then loaded them into the van to take home to split into 1X2 for the window and screen frames.

After lunch we loaded up the rigs and were heading for home by 2:30.

08-14-10

By the time I got to Santa Rosa yesterday I could hardly get out of the van. My back was hurting pretty bad, I had a hard time just getting into the house. After I took a couple of Ibuprofen, sat around for a while and took a hot shower I felt a little better.
After a night on my good bed and some more pain killers my back was feeling even better by noon today so I set up my trim saw on the patio table, and with Patti’s help we were able to split all that 1X4 into 1X2. I think there is 196 feet of 1X2.

08-15-10

Okay, I know, I am late with the blog.
But I have a really great excuse!
“My dog ate my laptop?”
“Oh! that’s right I don’t have a dog“.
Well, my laptop was attacked by malicious software but with some good advice from my friend Bob we got it cleared up quickly.
So, I guess I don’t have an excuse except to say I’m an old retired fart and don’t work to dead lines anymore.
Patti and I went shopping for screen for the cabin today and found some at Home Depot.
We drove by Tap Plastics to buy the plastic for the windows but it being Sunday, they were closed today.
Tomorrow I am going to take the generator to “Gardeners Aid” to have them look at it.
If they can get it fixed before Patti comes up to IC this weekend she can bring it up with her.
The plan is for me to go up to Indian Creek Tuesday and stay until at least the following Monday or maybe longer.

Without a generator it won’t be possible to keep the lap top charged for very long which will make it difficult to keep the blog up to date.

Okay that’s all for now,
I’ll talk to you the next time I am in town, maybe in a couple of weeks.

PS.
I didn't know where to put this picture but I just like the dicotamy in it.