Christmas morning waking up early

We had a few dropoffs of goodies yesterday of some different things. Thanks to all that stopped by for a quick chat with home made goodies, was a different day, cold and busy I was, forgot it was Christmas Eve until I came in from my lumber yard with frozen feet, and looked at Bosco, he needed a walk. So off I go around the campsite for a short walk, took out my phone to look at the date, and holly crap, it's Christmas Eve 😳😄🤣 well that was a first. Too busy to notice what day it was. Still shaking my head. 

The evening went by fast too, we watched a sappy movie, paused it,  as Polly made a Mmm good dinner, this time with her fresh made buns we had hamburgers. Mmm 😋. And her special french fries.

 Back to the movie, then watched one about being in a video game, I didn't watch it much, was messaging on the phone. 

Bed for me before the movie ended. Polly not far behind. A quiet Christmas Eve it was. 

Up early, too early, but if I can't sleep no use rolling around thinking of what I might do next 😄 

So up I get, and coffee on, dishes done, and I read a book of poetry given to me by Bob Collins to read. Written by Peter Trower, I had never heard of him before, but won't forget him now. 

The book is poems all about and around logging, camps, and almost everything that applies to the early days of logging. So real the writing is I can smell the wood, the ground, and hear the talk, the lines, the whistles and feel the rain and snow. I read 3 poems, one was very long, and I have to put it down. I don't want to rush though this book, it's too much of a gem. 

I don't think often of the days logging or forestry, or the other many jobs I did. But when it rains hard, and is cold, and windy I remember those days when I didn't want to be there. Of all of them I can only remember 1 day where I just couldn't stay. I had a cold, and this guy wanted to stop as we planted to the back end, he wanted us to all wait in the rain while he had a smoke. I can remember I was wet, and cold and felt like shit, I'd had enough. I threw my tools, and trees, and off I marched to the bottom of the hill saying, "Fuck this, I ain't sitting here in the rain waiting for you! I'm going home." 

Home I went, called the foreman on the radio, and was home for a couple days. Just couldn't take it.

Most of the time we all talked about going home, but just hunkered down and pushed through the crappy days. Funny how the crappy ones you remember just so much more. 😊😄

Any way Christmas day, and my 2nd coffee this one with some home made Bailey's, thanks Leslie. Rains pounding on the roof, and I'm dry, warm and don't have to go out in it anymore unless we run outta propane, and I have to switch the tanks 😆

Poinsettia has dropped many leaves now, messaged my daughter, her and her son Dax were still up, storm kept them awake. Lol storm, I say. This is just rain, I know a storm. 

Life is good, so good when all goes the right way. I'm a very lucky man ❤️🤗

Merry Christmas everyone 💖🎄☃️

Choices, we have a choice to? What?

          What will I create with these?

          2" thick x 16" wide by 12' long 

Many, myself included have complained about this past year. No doubt the year wasn't what we wanted 😭, many lives have changed forever. So for me to complain about not being South in the warmth would be silly, but I have as many others have. 

So today I realized the choices we have available to us give us opportunity to decide what's next. I have cried in my soup a few times in my life, when things don't go my way, now is no time to reject the opportunities we have during this restricted time in our lives. 

I have realized there is more to me than I knew, I have been busy learning to make things out of wood, something I always loved, just never developed. 

Being held in one place has been a gift to me, best is being in our home town, where so much is familiar, and family and friends are close. 

FB for all it's criticism from so many, has been a gift as well as a pain. The best part is we are able to say Hi 🙂 ☺️ to our friends in so many ways. A post, and chat, a little heart, just a 🤗 even if not in person can make someone's day❤️🤗

This is a gift we can use, and I do. Knowing friends are ok, and that life goes on as we are not able to be with them keeps us connected so when the time comes we can get together again. 

I like to write too, and this blog helps keep my fingers busy tapping on this screen🤣🤣 We have so many choices in life, and being restricted to staying put, and not being allowed to see each other may be a bummer, but we still have opportunity if we just do what we can, not regret what we can't do. 

This is a time to use the Brain, think of what really excites you, that you can do at this time, and check ✔️✅✔️ check it out. I saw a saying on the back of a trailer by us last year that I thought was great. If you don't go You'll never know!

If you have to Stay, then think of a way to Play!  This applys to our time right now, so think of what you can do that you love, something you haven't tried yet and enjoy this time. 

I believe we only get one shot at this life, our time is limited, as you get older even less time is left. So get going doing what you haven't yet, its fun. Make a choice to enjoy this time, I have and dam it's good. 

Love this life so much 😍 🤗

Merry Christmas 🎄⛄🤗❤️ 😄

Staying in one place RV travels ☺️

Staying in one place travel seems like a Oxymoron (had to look that up) and it is.

Well we stay here we still travel in many ways. We are always keeping up with others travels on FB or through messenger, emails and just connected as others we know are still traveling in USA, Canada & Mexico. Some are making short journeys, some much farther, but traveling just the same. As we watch we learn as if we are traveling too. Not as we planned, but still fun to watch others and see what there life's like now we are restricted to staying put. 

         Youtube videos help me learn

Another way I have been enjoying our stay is through youtube. So many subjects to investigate, and so many different people that video many subjects. I never understood why my grandchildren would say when I asked "watcha been up to" they would say "watching YouTube" 

Now I get it, if you want to do something, or are interested in something, it's there. Not only is there a video, but there are many, and done in so many different ways. This new to me way of researching something is mind boggling. 

I started out with how to install my Satellite dish in the new trailer, then how to skirt the trailer, now onto woodworking and so much to learn, and many projects to do. This is my way to travel and stay in one place. 

As I listen to the people explain what they are making, and how to do it, I am also learning where they are, and what it's like there. Armchair travel I'm thinking 🤔, all the same I'm enjoying learning how to make what interests me, as well as making what Polly wants out of the woodwork I'm doing. 

         My tent workshop 

I thought about making a video or 2 myself, but for now I'm going to stick to the fun I'm having making things myself, rather than showing others my screw ups.

Yesterday was a rain storm, didn't get much done, but today I'll complete my bench

 

         My working plans for the bench

which will make for a better workspace, with a little more movable room in my makeshift tent/shop. 

As for projects, I have completed 7 cell phone holders, sold 1 one, made 1 for Polly, and 5 for presents. I'll make a few more as time goes, they are a fun project that lets me use the 2 tools I bought this year, a band saw and a router. Both give me so much variety in what I can make now. 

Also completed a planter for Shayla, my grandaughter, hoping she will have a beautiful flower garden this year, she did enjoy growing a few things last year.

I have a sign project I've started by drawing on the piece of yellow cedar that I brought in and dried by the heater to make it workable. Looking forward to this. 

I have much lumber thanks to Andrew bringing me some of the leftovers he gets from a sawmill friend. This wood is all wet, so was looking at a small kiln to dry it, but that's not likely to happen this year. 

Planning ahead I'm thinking of where to store my shop tools and wood when we travel again, and haven't got a sure plan yet, but am researching possible places here in Port Alberni. Likely will stop in here yearly to visit and regroup, and do some creative Woodworking 😊

In the meantime, Polly's baking up a storm right now, got a few people she wants to give some baked presents to. Those lucky people 😋

Saturday morning in the dry weather, looking forward to the day. Life is just so good here and now. Love our life 🤗❤️

What's it all about? Sunday morning thoughts. Forestry was good to me.

  I asked Polly what she would like & Voila

As I watch another YouTube video of saw milling I realize just how lucky I was to have the decent machinery & good safety procedures as I went through the forest industry from my early years to my retirement. Looking at the videos from otherer countries I see so much hard labour, and very primitive machinery as well as ways they operate, all standards surprise me.

Looking at the TV is much different now, we can choose so much to watch vs past of looking at what's programed. I dreamed of owning and operating a small band mill one day, but as I get older the reality sets in and I think not. But I do like to see how people cut logs, and what choices they make. 

Not everyone's entertainment, but I like to watch and learn, even if I likely won't be cutting lumber. Today I was watching a video of 8-10 men cut a piece of wood about 6" thick, by 40" wide and 20 feet long, was the center of a big log. Most videos I have seen so far were of sawmills that are somewhat automated. This mill was not at all automated. Was just a big "C" shaped band saw with a small gas engine that had a wide belt to drive it from the engine to the saw. Had a plastic gas can piped to it with tape, very hokey. 

The men got the huge piece of wood from a pile of wood on the ground stored along a dirt road, all men had bare feet, and some just a towel type dress on, others pants & tee-shirt as they worked as a unit lifting and moving the piece onto a huge axel wagon with wooden wheels. 

Leverage and many men lifted the piece centered on to this bicycle wheeled wagon, then they pushed it from the busy road edge around traffic to the bandsaw.

Now at the saw I realized there were only 4 men with the dress like outfits, and others had light shirts and pants. No gloves, no shoes, no glasses, no ear protection.

I'll never forget how huge this piece of wood was and how they handled it. The one person directed the others, not formally but as a group, they all understood how this was going to go. 

The mill was crank started, pup pup pup, smoke and poping, and away it goes, then the operator puts a board on the belt to create some tension, and away the bandsaw goes. 

Now the sawyer directs it through, no guide, no automation, just all the men pushing this huge chunk through this band mill. 

Surprised I was as they got this chunk of wood whittled down, with customer overlooking the process, and sawer direction all the way through. 

Village Boy Pro is the youtube channel that has many of these videos. 

The name of this one is below, 

Tough! Very Dangerous and Tough Wood Cutting and Lifting by 10 Powerful Men in Saw Mill of Aisa

 I haven't watched many of these videos, but this one I'll never forget. I'm still shaking my head. Even if you don't understand a sawmill, you'll be shaking your head if you watch this video. 

I have also been watching wood working videos, so I can make some interesting to me wood projects. A friend has given me some of the wood he has been given, left overs from a sawmill. Making a few things lately, some for Christmas, some just to learn how to, and see if I can. I aquired a few new to me tools, so now putting them to use. 

Fun, is what you are interested in, and after a life working getting logs and lumber to market, I think creating something out if the wood locally available is my goal. Just love working with wood, and how beautiful the things I can make with just a little imagination. 

I always loved this, and this year Covid has helped me stay put and create some of what I always wanted to. 

A coffee table called "Waterfall table" is my next project.

 Polly's thinking of what we might need, & I'm dreaming of how to create something beautiful for our trailer. Always planing light weight, ease of storage, usefulness, and of course beauty. 

Here are the 2 pieces of Cedar I have to start with, planning will take a few days, want to have a very good plan before I start. 

My workshop is not to Fancy, 😄 but I'm happy to be out playing as a kid is in the sand box. Just really enjoying the creating what interests me. 

When Polly says "I was Thinking" 

 I LoL 🤣😆 knowing what comes next is a collaboration between the two of us that is usually much fun. 

More to come, maybe next a YouTube video of us logging 🤣🤣🤣 

Covid can take a hike, I'm having fun making things and enjoying our life 😀 

Memories, lucky to have them.

Started looking through my pictures the other day, making a calendar for 2021.

As I flipped through the days past in January and before, I saw so many people that I can't see this year again. 

When we retired the plan was to travel, south in winter, and north in summer. Plans change. This virus has us anchored here at Arrowvale Campground, not a bad place to hang about. Close to our hometown, family and friends, close to all we remember from days gone by. 

Still the sweet memories of winters gone by where we traveled south have me thinking about friends we won't see this year.

 

A phone call away, but still will miss the fun times we had, at same time we know will have again.

Next is what to do, we keep busy doing what we love here in town. I plan to make a few changes in our trailer, and Polly is busy making Christmas decorations for our trailer. As the winter progresses i surely expect to see an early spring this year, as so far the weather is mild. 

I have a few projects in mind, finished my first today, a bench for a boy we have grown to love here at Arrowvale, River is his name.

 

Was a fun project, and with the few extra tools I aquired, band saw, router, circular saw as well as tools I brought here from my friends place, Table saw, jig saw, air nailer & compressor, and a few others I'm looking forward to completing a few more fun projects. 

November rains subside this Monday, the wether forecast predicts sunny days ahead till Friday. Plans, what's the plan 🤔

I'm thinking of the planter I started yesterday, I'll finish today. Then shelves beside the bed, shelves that fold up so is easier to make the bed, as narrow space between the bed and the slide walls. 

One of the things about working in or around a trailer, the space is limited. And adding things, always thinking of weight. And placement, no wood studs to screw into, have to plan well so not to punch holes and have to move your shelf. 

The rain has stopped, the Sky's bright. The dropped still on the windows. I'm sure this will be a great week. 😃 

I look out the window as I write, over top Polly's head as she leans back in her chair, and she says "oop blue Sky's coming!" The announcement I was hoping for. Polly has a very positive outlook, always seeing the optimistic possiblities. She is right, blue skies are here. 

I took some pictures as the day unfolded and looked at them, showed Polly, and I think we have one of the Beatles here in the tree lookin in on us.

What do you think? Lol 😆, I'll look different at that tree now. 

I start this week with a haircut today, booked on line with a very familiar person😃😊👦

I'm thinking I should write a Book! 🤔

This was my thought this morning as I was walking back from a long for me walk. Thinking as I was walking what could I write about? I have many subjects I could write about, but the one I know the best is Me, that's what I do know alot about. 

At first I thought about a couple conversations I've had recently about my working history, the last person that asked I gave a fairly in-depth rendition of my working history working in a logging camp, then about the sawmill. As I spoke I realized I have done a lot, many different jobs, and learned so much. 

Today I decided there is even more to learn about me then just about the woodworking history. I worked from early in life, gee I'm shaking my head right now, how far back do I go 🤣🤣

Picking up bottles and cans at 8 years old gave me money to buy candy and treats. Fishing for cod in the canal down from our house and trading for cash or sometimes a pie. Then shovelling snow for $ the winter of 68-69 gave me enough to buy a family and friends a present at Christmas. That memory is burned in my mind, is the year I learned the lesson to just keep going, even if I was tired, too tired. Just keep moving, the job will get done, can't give up! 

Determination is something I am not the best at, I do give up sometimes, but I do understand my determination is something that I'm proud of. Determination has carried me through life, and today, if I really want something, I know how to go for it. 

There is more. I need to think things through, I often act too quickly, that can be very good in a needed situation, and deadly in some. Hmm, is this introspection? I think so, and that I'm thinking is a very good trait. 

Happy, that's another

Positive ✅

Loving✅

Caring✅

Forceful ✅

😡 Angry ✅

Hurtful 😡✅

Generous ✅

Thoughtful ✅

Dog got stuck today in the bedroom, Polly tells me, LoL 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 couldn't find his way out 😂🤣🤣

That'll be me someday 🤔😃😂🤣🤣🤣

I'll write a book! 

One day 😃😆😊

Winter ready is our next project.

Our comfort level increased with our new home, and making it ready for our winter stay is my next project. 

Water lines insulated, waste water protected yesterday got the trailer skirted all around. All roof cauking checked for cracks, even if new, I like to go up on the roof before the heaviest weather comes, just to check, and sweep off the leaves. Besides it's a nice view on a warm day in November ☺️

Inside our home heat is with our propane furnace and an additional plug in oil filled heater.

As we heat we close up the doors and windows tight, pull the blinds to help insulate,  this gives us the next problem to solve. Moisture, this can be a big problem if we don't deal with it. Having the fan on and open to the outside as we shower or cook helps, but as the weather gets colder we are trying to keep the heat in. Dehumidifier is next purchase, to help with keeping heat in and moisture low. 1cup of water yesterday in 24 hours. I expect more as the weather gets better and colder.

       Dehumidifier is a good investment

Now thinking problems solved, were ready for the rain and snow. Oops, not yet, awnings outside will be a problem if we leave them open, so tying them down to prevent them riping, of flapping in the wind will help, but always a concern if we leave, so have to manage by rolling them up if a storm aproches.

After all the winter preparation is done, I have planned to get busy on our small alterations to make the interior just right😊 This part of making our home a little more comfortable is my favorite part. The small comforts that the manufacturer doesn't always get right. Getting to make something from wood, that is a favorite part, creative & fun. Looking forward to some interesting creations this winter. 

Always something to do with our home, as well as the area around it. When you travel, most likely just put out the awnings, get the BBQ set up & chairs out is all that's needed, but when making our camp more permanent calls for just a little more preparation. Feeling satisfied we are almost ready. See how we fare as the weather comes. 😃

Love this life, even if stationary 🤗