Author: Diana Blakney

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Fungi, firewood and a new sign

While walking in the woods near the Loop trail, Kay and I saw these cute fungi. Kay correctly (I think) identified them as puffballs. From the internet: “Puffballs are like marshmallows but they can be almost any size and are usually soft and squishy and edible when young and pure white inside. Then the white changes colour and turns to goo, and sometimes powder. In some cases, a hole opens up in the top so the powder can “puff” out when the rain falls (or somebody stomps on them for fun).”
Kay, placing game camera #1 on the Loop trail.
Kay, placing game camera #2 on the trail that leads from the Loop trail down to Rock Creek. Yes, there is a tree blocking the forest road!
Kay watches while Sid and Bill install a new sign indicating a small plot of replanted trees.
It is becoming increasingly clear that we will have to buy firewood later in the winter. Our supply does not look as if it will last.

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Big tree down, firewood and injury

Work interrupted when Sid fell with the pictured ladder and suffered a huge laceration below his left knee, and a wretchedly painful soft tissue injury to his right shoulder.
One day after being stapled together with 34 staples, Sid keeps on working (albeit slowly).
Kay and Bill, on their way to load firewood, find the forest road blocked by an uprooted alder (?) tree.
Attacking with a hand saw did not remove the log, but allowed for an alternative approach to the piles of firewood beyond.
Finally, Kay and Diana can get to the wood piles!

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Wood stove repair, chimney swept, and woodland events

The wood stove and its apparatus are getting prepped for winter.
New bricks on the interior.
Brad, leading the discussion at Diana’s woodland visit to Dave and Sarah’s 87 acres near Airlie.
Dave and Sarah’s presentation was instructive and funny.
Bill and Sid at a retirement party for a Starker employee.
Brad, extension forester for Benton County, was at the party, too.

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Sid passes inspection and more firewood is stacked

Sid’s floor-heating wiring passed inspection!
Rather than haul more firewood to the Loop trail landing, Bill and Dee decide to stack some between trees deep in the woods near the big culvert on Griffith Creek. Lots of split wood is already there, and can be more quickly stacked and protected from rain in situ.
First spot nearly finished.
Second spot located and stacking begun.
Second spot finished, at least for today.
Yes, of course Bianca was a HUGE help.

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More firewood hauling

Bill tries (unsuccessfully) to get Bianca to sit. While loading the two piles of firewood in this spot near the watershed road, we noticed the harvest area, while small, had been planted with Doug-fir.
A few wood pieces were way too long, so we used them to protect the plantings while we loaded. See the lower left corner .
This apple tree is a beautiful golden yellow. No apples, but it is quite a lovely contrast.
After four loads of firewood were unloaded, stacked and tarped, Bill and I helped Sid cut this piece of plywood on a really scary saw. Gulp!
No lives were lost.

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Prepping for rain, sleet and snow

On hands and knees, Sid is prepping the annex for more concrete flooring scheduled for Tuesday.
Keeping the forest roads clear is more challenging as winter approaches.
Moving split firewood from the woods to the landing is nearly a daily chore in sunny weather. We are about half way done.
Moving the old water heater out of the way of the concrete pouring.

Firewood mounds growing.
This alleged “helper” takes a lot of breaks.
Who, me?

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